The Sun. — London, England, 1841-12-24 00:00:00

t I I ill Ar Ig. ~,OLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION. h,.. ts SOLVING VlEws.—At the Polytechnic Institu- W7i last n i g h t, sixteen new views of this descrip :Were exhibited. They were representations of some tt:fle remarkable scenery and architecture of the Turkish iii r , Pir e• The exhibition commenced with a spirited de -16_04 of th e B osp h orus, w i t h a bi r d' s - eye view of Constan le;'Ple, which was beautifully "dissolved" into the val- It:, ° I Sweet 'Waters—a scene in the environs of Con ksnitinople. This was sueceeded by the Palace of Tash, the Mosque of the Sulimanie, a view of th," q antinople from the entrance to the Golden Horn, .cisque of the Sultana Valide, the Mosque of St. lira, Moun t Oly m pus, the Shawl Bazaar, and o th er 41,1 w3 in Constantinople itself. One of the most remark .,,and attractive of these representations was the Hall remark `,, td This is a species of subterranean cloisters t tl ` - ',,.° ll stantinotile, completely flooded. In the view an bi o 6 usiltnan is represented in a boat, attempting to ex te these subterrancous regions. The story goes that th e /l 'as killed in his attempt by the mephitic vapours of heap The water in this view is admirably de d, and pleasingly deludes 4 , the well-cozened sight , ' n a exhibition closed with a view of " the Street of the thumbs," with the grand procession on the occasion of bps' Inauguration of the Sultan. The whole of these re ,,—,esentations are executed with considerable skill ; the ti;'° ll ring is brilliant and powerful, and the minutiae of u . ,_ e designs, as well as the general effect, have been 6 - `"tided to with success. The mechanism of '‘dissolv tli it is needless to say, was managed with all the pre 'ton for which this establishment is noted. of his, r,he tee rds re' ef t " 31' "r t . TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. %, ° l %,—ln justice to my character, which I hold as dear *444 Noble Lord possibly can, may I request the fa eo44,l4t,you to allow me to correct the statement of Pott e - N the case of Maybury v. Lord W. Paget, re 'try 1 14 your paper of this day, that I was " offered a •"andsome sum." l ast tn is b to IX for debt and costs was offered on Saturday solicitor, who, of course, to the ex ' t :es incurred at that stage of the pr om o ceedings, refused t r e very handsome sum.' % tit Saturday last no offer was made, notwithstand- Wile f ac t of over two years having elapsed, and my tw o g addressed several letters to his Lordship, about te months ago, without receiving a single answer. ti: 44 the inf e rence deducible from this incorrect asser , , te an offer " of a very handsome sum" is likely to et iou me as a professional man, I hope you will be kind a T gh to give insertion to this letter. Your's, Lc., ' 4l O Tower -street, Dec. 23. W. A. MAYBURY. THE MARKETS.—(THIS DAY). CORN EXCHANGE. This week's arrivals of Wheat hare been moderate ; of Barley, Oats, and Flour, good. The Wheat trade ten lains the same as on Monday, 'with little doing. Barley and Oats each very dull, and hardly supported former prides. Flour unaltered. SMITHFIELD MARKET. The supply was short, yet it was considerably greater l the demand. The prices annexed were almost t e _ nom inal, as t h ere was scarce a b u y e r i n th e market. 1 1 _%.ts, 256 ; Sheep, 1,330 ; Pigs, 215 ; Calves, 58. 4 , 3 3. 2d. to 4s. 4d. ; Mutton, 3s. 6d. to ss. 6d. ; Veal, ' 6 d. to ss. 6d. ; Pork, 4s. 6d. to ss. 6d. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. " 1 Ireat we had a good supply, but the business done i s e lnuderate, and prices as follow:-Beef, 3s. to 4s. 2d.; 4: 4 n, 3s. 4d. to 45.; Veal, 3s. Bd. to 4s. Bd. ; Pork, •to SS. 4d. per stone of 81bs. Poultry and Game were WeTn(lesdaysulTlY, and the prices were about the same as on 111 WHITECHAPEL MEAT MARKET. li etf t supply was very limited, but equal to the demand. 3 3 . RA ' . Bd. to 4s. ; Mutton, 2s. 4d. to 4s. 2d. ; Veal, 4 ,14) ss. ; Pork, 3s. to ss. 2d. TEA MARKET. 1 4 Z1 V emand for Free Trade Tea was dull, and prices supported. Company's Congou Is. qd. cash. TALLOW MARKET. 484. 11 e demand to 48s.f or P.Y.C. was good, and prices firm at 6d. per cwt. ADELAIDE GALLERY. CosoLviNG Virws.--=.Last evening Mr. E. M. Clarke etil optician, favoured a few scientific gentlemen and connected - with the press, with a private view of ar rangements for entertaining the holiday visitors of • Adelaide Gallery, with an exhibition of " Views," in addition to the numerous objects of art „ l a scienc e which already render this elegant and rich 11 seurn so attractive. 1, 'he principal novelty in Mr. Clarke's arrangement !hat ha views are exhibited on a transparent screen, hick cau ses th em to h ave an un if o rm appearance. The e at depth of the room keeping the nearest spectators at e . , l nsiderabl e di s t ance from the screen, greatly heightens ,l 14 assists this peculiarity. The transitions are, in some L. 4,S 'flees, contrived to produce a ludicrous, in others 4 1 „,' sentimental effect. Thus a beautifully-coloured dr,_ lila-like group of Cupid and Psyche gradually I /L" l s and melts into a pair of devils, cut kV; Captain Barber, the Kalorarnist's, most approved and playing at shuttlecock with a fashionable oe ll aF; lady, who skips, a la Taglioni, high in air, from 1 ,2 battledore to We other. And, again, whilst the e tator is lost in admiration of the graneur and beauty le , tile Lake of Como, a mist gradually obscures the ip t , ae, and then, as slowly dissipating before the return -404 reveals the sublime and lovely Glendalough, 0l Is seen from the base of the romantic Teneriffe of eklo w. thi a S wnetihat more than twenty years ago, the writer of la p notice witnessed a very striking and interest- Cr application of the Camera Lucida by Mr. ark s father, to illustrate Mr. Charles', the gk' lo , quist's, lecture on " Ancient apparition of - On . those occasions, by the combined arts R r ," ventriloquist and the optician, shades of armed * Er 'Ors, and shrouded kings, transparent as thin air, rod e _ made to traverse the stage, discourse, command, 11 4 prophecy, and even sing ! Although Mr. E. M. Clarke h e not th e aid of the great Charles, his exhibition will i,ithighly entertaining ; and if it were . accompanied *h i a short popular explanation of the principles upon ) 1 60 the optical efforts are produced it would be also thZ Y instructive to the young visitors of the Gallery in a Pproaching holidays. in f ir. DESTITUTION.—Yesterday even s4r• Riggs held an inquest at the Grange Inn of re, Wstreet, Lincoln's Inn-fields, on view of the body gra--",zabeth Symonds, aged 45. George Wood, of *itl l ng ,, e- Yard, Carey-street, stated that deceased lived tta o ne o f , witness's tenants in Grange-yard. About t t o'clock last Wednesday morning, information was di cti ght to witness that it was believed deceased had add s uddenly. Witness accordingly went to her ro o m , but a f ° ll nd the doo r l o cked. He knocked and ca ll e d, do op u ec eased did not answer. He then broke the Itee el; ° Pen, and found deceased dead, and in a had h u g postur e b e f o re the fire-place. A kn i fe Ole i ll ; Piece o f woo d „ w ere lying near her, a S s u r i - i ti c al been a tt em pti ng t o light the fire. fe w u 'd was instantly procured, but it was found that eti sn s completely extinct. Deceased wassufferingunder 43 413:4ti0n, and was in a very destitute condit i on; her Ite t k il tans of subsistence being a trifle that she got every „., t( 4a:Y going as charwoman to the house of a frie nd in fc'street. She often wanted a crust, and was with h - ve ~,° ll se p roper necessaries of life. Thomas Godfrey , the 1414, ti largenn of Ki ng ' s College Hospital, stated that he believe that consumption was the immediate of her d eat h . Sh e was afflicted with disease of t he \v‘4Bl-which di sease wou ld na t ura lly be accelerated by d ied o i l! Proper nourishment. He believed deceased had thick l ee avulsions. The Jury, after au investigation 4N atilr a i lst d e d ne arly two hours, returned a verdict of— ent greatly accelerated by want of proper _A 41 } 1 0/.u . in „ -.ER OUTBREAK AT THE ROYAL Of th i ;i7 AT GREENWICH.—On Tuesday night the boys fe eBB - 'Pper School of the Royal Naval Asylum rose en ho and demolished nearly 300 squares of glass in the the ro om and other apartments. For some time past if th e c'3's have been heard to threaten this should happen k a ,Y were not allowed to visit their friends at Christ the an indulgence which has been usually granted to r fl• This year, however, it was intimated that the u 'gence would not be extended. The poor fellows' f:;,tion at the disappointment speedily gave way to a t'iing of resentment, which neither corporal nor moral g t , Vine could allay. It is expected that an inquiry will 7,,Pdily be instituted. lif t'ATAL ACCIDENT ON TIIE LIVERPOOL AND I ,,,,j I CRESTEIL RAILWAY.—Another fatal accident occur (4l Wvdnesday on the road of the line leading from h ers ." 4. Muspratt's works across the Liverpool and Moi ler Railway at Newton-in-Mackerfield. James Tay ant; afil le lad, between twelve a n d thirteen years of age, 4 , the l oc k-k ee per at Winnick-locks, on the S an ke y dross aftomp a nied by another lad , his own age , ran t me line at the moment that t he Liverpool and 11 1 ?- iester five o 'clock passenger train approa ched at its w 4 1 ,11111 rate o f about thirty miles an hour. One lad sprang 1; 38 • 8 the fine almost in b front of the engine, and t L . a tit r- breadth esca p e " a v o id e d the threatened de Yard ,Taylor, the deceased, who was not more s than a etigi o ' e llind his companion, jamped right in front of the so % e • It struck him with dreadful violence, an d so ee lltr 4 th e t ra i n h a d passe d , hi s b o d y was found in th_ , e of th of the ra il s , a t a di s t ance , as a ft erw ards measured th e hi r tY-six yard s , from the spot at which he received hib h °W . Both his legs were cut off' by the wheels, and Inu i ed and other parts of his body were dreadfully T lt ed• He was lying quite dead in a pool of blood. bky E ARUNDEL BANK.—ARUNDEL, THURS.' Ar o ;,, meeting of creditors took place at the Norfolk Gr e ,," inn, Arundel, before Messrs. Ellis, Powell, and Thy n ' for the proof of debts and choice of assignees. It,b e 'otal amount of debts proved was 26,2651. 2s. ld. as at r .t Watki ns , E sq . ( t h e M a yor of Arund e l), p ropose d Osb-o,,,lgneea Mr. Wm. Allen, Mr. John Haliday, Mr. W. - --11' 11e ' Mr. Richard Homes, and Mr. Wm. Elliot. Hod son, a cre di tor, as k e d if it were necessary Kol ve five assignees, as one of the parties named (Mr. h ad Zs) had a brother-in-law in the concern, and he th e !ter be omitted. Mr. Wyatt said he was one of to s C,cipal creditors, and he wished Mr. Hohne's name amqu es - , n u• The Chairman of the Commissioners put the ours n. when it was found that only four creditors, n ting together to 1,0001., were in favour of Mr. poirlt se e n's list. The five were then duly declared ap batik_ r d assignees, a n d M essrs . R el ay an d C o . a ppointed s. ra a , l Yde Park derives its name from the ancient P ete , of Hide, w hi c h b e l onged to t h e monastery o f S t . i t be ! a, Westminster, until, in the reign of Henry VIII., 16 52 'nie the property of the Crown. In the survey of gr e a tly contai ne d 620 acres, since which time it has been ar 9iminished by t a ki ng a par t o f it i n t o Kensing coro"er dens, and by grants of lands, between Hyde Park ' th e last Park-l ane , f or b u i l di ng on. A ccord i ng to two ,uryey, take n i n 1790 , i ts extent was 394 acres, citiee-i°°cls, 3s 11 Caroline,ol pes. in 178 The Serpentine-river was formed hr 0. CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS. ABROAD AND AT HOME. Now is come the Christmas Feast, Let every man be jolly, Each room with ivy leaves be drest, And every post with holly. Without the door let sorrow die, And if, for cold, it hap to die, We'll bury it in a Christmas pie, And ever more be merry. —GEORGE WITHERS. CHRISTMAS AT VIENNA. Among the inumerable preparations for Christ mas throughout Austria, the following- is the most general. At the corner of every street are to be seen customers even of the lower orders, bargaining for trees, adorned with knots of many-coloured paper, in order to cele brate the Christmas. These trees are always spruce firs, of every degree, size, and expense, and not a cottage in Austria, but has something of the kind to solemnize Christmas. The tree is called " the tree of the little Jesus," and on the branches are suspended all sorts of pretty toys, bijous and bon-bons, to be distributed among those who are present at the fete. On the trees in the street the place of more costly presents is supplied by apples, raisins, gingerbread of ches nuts, and little streamers of pink and vari-colored ribbons give them a dazzling look. At Prince Metternich's this custom was to be seen in its best splendour. For the lighting of the tree, the large round dining table was placed in the centre of the great saloon, and on it stood the fir-tree, reaching almost to the ceiling, on the branches of which were fastened a multitude of wazen lights. Above, around, and underneath this sparkling galaxy of `little stars, hung suspended by dainty knots of ribbons, all the bon-bons and other pretty things which glittered in their rays. To disentangle them and distri bute them to the company was the concluding ceremony, and the circle of young faces was ra diant with delight, under the twinkling bright ness of the rich tree. After the table was cleared of its many and varied treasures the tree was made to descend to the floor, and then by the aid of sundry tall serving-men withdrawn with the illuminated branches, and the remainder of the bonbons scattered among the dancing and shouting little host. CHRISTMAS AT ROUEN. At Rouen after the Te Deum in the nocturnal office or vigil of Christina., the ecclesiastics cele brate the " office of the shepherds" in the fol lowing manner :• The image of the Virgin Mary is placed in a stable prepared behind the altar. A boy from above, before the choir, in the likeness of an angel, announces the nativity to certain canons or vicars who enter as shepherds, clothed in tu nics and amesses. Many boys in the vaults of the church, like angels, then begin the " Gloria in _excelsis." The shepherds hearing this, ad vance to the stable, singing " Peace, good-will," &c. As soon as they enter it, 'two priests in Dalmatics, as if women (quasi obstetrices), who were stationed at the stable, say " Whom seek ye?" The shepherds answer, Christ." The women, then opening the curtain, exhibit the boy, saying, 44 The little one is here, as the pro phet Isaiah said." They then show the mother, saying, " Behold the Virgin," &c. Upon these exhibtions they bow and worship the boy, and salute his mother. The office ends by their returning to the choir, and singing " Hallelu jah," &c. • A. GREEK CHRISTMAS. In Swan's " Journal of a Voyage up the Me diterranean," is the following account of a Greek Christmas :—" Thursday, January 6, this being Christmas-day with the Greek Catholics, their churches are adorned in the gayest manner. I entered one, in which a sort of raree-show had been set up, illumined with a multitude of can dles ; the subject of it was the birth of Christ, who was represented on the back-ground by a little waxen figure wrapped up in embroidery, and reclining on an embroidered cushion, which rested upon another of pink satin : this was sup posed to be the manger where he was born. Behind the image two paper bull's heads looked unutterable things. On the right was the Virgin Mary, and on the left one of the Eastern Magi. Paper clouds, in which the paper heads of num berless cherubs appeared, enveloped the whole ; while from a pasteboard cottage stalked a wooden monk, with dogs, sheep, and camels, goats, lions, and lambs. The construction of these august figures was chiefly Dutch. In the centre a real fountain, in miniature, squirted forth water, to the ineffable delight of crowds of prostrate worshippers." CHRISTMAS IN PARIS. Christmas in France appears to be another thing from Christmas in England, and, in fact, without referring to the Almanac, it would not be known from any other by the appearance of the capital. Though set down as a jour de fete, all the ordinary business of life is transacted, and at the churches nothing extraordinary is going forward, a thing surprizing in a Catholic country. On Christmas-eve, indeed, there is sonic bustle for a midnight mass, to which immense num bers flock, as the priests on this occasion get up a showy spectacle, which rivals the theatres. The altars are dressed with flowers, and the churches decorated profusely ; but there is little in all this to men who have been accustomed to the John Bull mode of spending the evening. The . good English habit of meeting together to forgive offences and injuries, and to cement re conciliations is here unknown. The French listen to the Church music, and to the singing of their choirs, which is generally excellent. The English residents in Paris, however, do not forget our mode of celebrating the day, and if there be a plum-pudding or turkey in France it is certainly for them. CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY. At Ratzeberg, in the North of Germany, there is a most pleasing custom observed, common also to many other parts of the country. The children make little presents to their parents, and to each other, and the parents to their chil dren. For three or four months before Christ mas the girls are all busy, and the boys save up their pocket-money . to buy these presents. What the present is to be is cautiously kept secret; and the girls have a world of contrivances to conceal it—such as working when they are out on visits, and the others are not with them—getting up in the morning before daylight, &c. Then, on the evening before Christmas-day, one of the par lours is lighted up by the children, into which the parents must not go: a great yew bough is fastened on the table at a little distance from the wall, a multitude of little tapers are fixed in the bough, but not so as to burn it till they are nearly con sumed, and coloured paper, &c., hangs and flut ters from the twigs. Under this bough the chil dren lay out in great order the presents they mean for their parents, still concealing in their pockets what they mean for each other. Then the parents are introduced, and each presents his little gift; then they bring out the remainder one by one, from their pockets,. and present them with kisses and embraces. The eldest daughter and the mother, upon such occasions, have been known to weep aloud for joy and tenderness; and the tears to run down the face of the father, as he clasped his children tight to his breast, as if he endeavoured to stifle the sob that was rising in him. The shadow of the bough and the appendages on the wall, and arching on the ceiling makes a pretty picture, and the rapture of the very little ones when at last the twigs and their needles take fire and snap, is excessive. On the next day (Christmas day) in the great parlour, the parents lay out on the table the presents for the children ; a scene of more sober joy succeeds, as on this day, after an old custom, the mother says privately to each of her daughters, and the father to his sons, that which he has observed most praiseworthy, and that which was most faulty in their conduct. Formerly, and still in all the smaller towns and villages throughout North Germany, these pre sents were sent by all the parents to some one fellow who in high buskins, a white robe, a mask, and an enormous flax-wig, personates Knecht Rupert, is e., the servant Rupert. On Christ mas-night he goes round to every house, and says, that Jesus Christ, his Master, sent him thither. The parents and elder children receive bin' with great pomp and reverence, while the little ones are most terribly frightened. He then inquires for the children, and according to the character which lie hears from the parents, he gives them the intended present , as if or they if c t a ioy m i e out Christ. of Heaven from Jesus should have been bad children, he gives the Master, About parents reoomm a eu r d o s d, th a e n m d to in u t s i e i t i f a r i e n q e u o e f n t his . the secret, and it is curio us how they seven or eight years old t he children are let into faithfully keep it. CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN THE ISLE OF MAN• On Christmas-eve7accordino• to Waldron, all the servants in general have :holiday. They do not go to bed all night, but ramble about till the bells ring in all the churches, which is at twelve o'clock. Prayers being over they go to hunt the wren, and after having found out one of these poor birds they kill her, and lay her on a bier with the utmost solemnity, bringing her to the parish church, and burying her with a whimsical kind of solemnity, singing dirges over her in the Manx language, which they call her knell, after which Christmas begins. CHRISTMAS AT ROME. I When the Pope celebrates Divine Service on Christmas-day, the great or middle doors of St. i Peter's are thrown open at ten, and the grand procession, preceded by a beadle carrying the papal cross, and two others bearing lighted torches, advances slowly in two long lines between two ranks of soldiers up the nave. This majestic procession is closed by the Pontiff him self; seated in a chair of state, supported by 20 valets, half concealed in the drapery that falls in loose folds from the throne : he is crowned with his tiara, and bestows his benediction on the crowds that kneel on all sides as he is borne along. When arrived at the foot of the altar he descends, resigns his tiara, kneels, and as suming the common mitre, seats himself in the episcopal chair on the right of the altar, and joins in the psalms and prayers that precede the solemn service. To wards the conclusion of these preparatory devo tions, his immediate attendants form a circle around him, clothe him in his pontifical robes, and place the tiara on his head, after which, ac companied by two deacons and two sub-deacons, he advances to the foot of the altar, and, bowing reverently, makes the usual confession. He then proceeds in great pomp through the chancel, and ascends the pontifical throne, while the choir sings the Introitus, or psalm of entrance, the Kyrie Eleison and Gloria in Excelsis, when the Pontiff lays aside his tiara, and after having saluted the congregation in the usual form, the Lord be with you, reads the collect, the epistle, and verses from the psalms, intermingled with hallelujahs. The Pontiff then rises, gives his benediction to the two deacons, who kneel, with the book of gospels at his feet, and, resigning his tiara, stands while the gospel is sung in Latin and Greek. When the Nicene Creed, and the psalm following it are over, he descends trona his throne ; and, approaching the altar with the same attendants, and the same pomp as in the commencement of the service, receives and offers up his usual oblations, fumes the altar with frankincense from a golden censer, and then washes his hands, a ceremony imply ing purity of mind and body. He then turns to the people, and in an humble and affectionate ad dress begs their prayers, and shortly after com mences that sublime form of adoration and praise, called " The Preface," because it is an introduction to the most solemn part of the Li turgy, and he chaunts in a tone supposed to be borrowed from the ancient tragic declamation, and very noble and impressive. The last words, " Holy, holy, holy," &c , are uttered in a pos ture of deep adoration, and sung by the choir in notes of deep and solemn intonation. All mu sic then ceases, and an awful silence reigns around, while in a low tone the Pontiff recites that most ancient and venerable invocation which precedes the consecration. After saluting the people in the ancient form, the Pope returns to his throne, and then offers up his devotions on his knees at the foot of the altar, and, borne along in the same state as when he entered, passes down the nave of the church, and ascends by the Scala Regia to the grand gallery in the middle of the front of St. Peter's. His immediate attendants surround his person ; the rest of the procession draws up on each side ; the immense area and colonnade before the church are lined with troops and crowded with thousands of spectators; all eyes are fixed on the gallery ; the chaunt of the choir is heard at a distance ; the blaze of numberless torches plays round the columns ; and the Pontiff appears elevated on his chair of state under the middle arch. Instantly the whole multitude below fall on their knees; the cannons of St. Angelo give a general discharge, while rising slowly from his throne, he lifts his hands to heaven, stretches forth his arm, and thrice gives his benediction to the crowd, to the city, and to all mankind : a solemn pause fol lows, another discharge is heard, the crowd rises, and the pomp gradually disappears. CHRISTMAS IN THE SCILLY ISLANDS• In these islands they have a custom of sing ing carols on a Christmas-day at church, to which the congregation make contribution by dropping money into a hat carried about the church when the performance is over. CHRISTMAS IN FRANCONIA. J. Bcemus Aubanus tells us that in Franconia, on the three Thursday nights preceding the na tivity of our Lord, it is customary for the youth of both sexes to go from house to house, knock ing at the doors, singing their Christmas carols, and wishing a happy new year. They get, in return, at the houses they stop at, pears, apples, nuts, and money. Little troops of boys and girls still go about in this very manner at Newcastle upon-Tyne, and other places in the north of Eng land on the eve of Christmass-day, and on that day itself. CHRISTMAS IN ENGLAND. England is merry England when Old Christmas brings his sports again, 'Tis Christmas broaches mightiest ale, 'Tis Christmas tells the merriest tale. A Christmas gambol oft will cheer A poor man's heart through half the year. SIR WALTER SCOTT. CHRISTMAS CAROLS.—CaroI is said to be de rived from Cantare, to sing, and rola, an inter jection of joy. The song of the angels was the first carol, and anciently bishops carollod among their clergy at Christmas. An old sheet of Christmas Carols headed, " Christus natus est," " Christ is born," has a picture of the nativity, with our Saviour at Bethlehem, surrounded by a sheep bleating, an ox lowing, a raven croaking, a crow cawing, a cock crowing, and angels sing ing, in the sky. The following colloquy passes between them. The cock croweth Christus natus est, Christ is born. The raven asks, Quando? When? The crow replieth, Hac nocte, This night. The ox crieth out, Übi? Übi? Where? where ? The sheep bleated out, Bethlehem, Bethlehem. A voice from heaven sounds "Gloria in excelsis," Glory be on high, and the angels join in full chorus. THE YULE-LOG OR CHRISTMAS-BLOCK.—The Yule-log is that immense log of wood which was put upon the fire on Christmas-day, a custom which is still observed in the county of Lincoln. The yule-log seems as old as the Cyclops of Euripides. The size of these logs of wood, which were in fact great trees, may be collected from the fact that in the time of the civil wars of the last century, Captain Hosier of the Berwick family, burnt the house of Mr. Barker, of Haghmond Abbey, near Shrewsbury, by setting fire to the yule-log. THE FEAST OF LlGHTS.—Christmas, says Blount, was called the Feast .of Lights in the Western or Latin Church, because they used many lights or candles at the feast, or rather because Christ, the Light of all lights, then came into the world. Hence the Christmas candle, and what was its succedaneum, the yule block, before candles were in general use. A large coal is often set aside at present in the North for the same purpose. MUMMING.—This is another Christmas custom. This festive sport consists in changing clothes between men and women, who when dressed in each others' habits, go from one neighbour's house to another, partaking of Christmas cheer, and making merry with them in disguise. HAGMENA.---It is ordinary in some parts of Scotland to go about from door to door at Christmas, crying out Hagmena, a corrupted word from the Greek ayicz e. the Holy Month. John Dixon, holding fbrth against this custom once in a sermon at Kelso, says, " Sirs, do you know what Hagmane signifies? It is, the Devil be in the house !' that's the meaning of its Hebrew original." Another Presbyter preaching against the ob servance of Christmas, said, " Ye will say, Sirs, good old Yule-day : I tell you, good old Fool day. You will say, it is a brave holiday : I tell you, it is a brave belly-day." CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.—The number of basket* that enter London at this season is astonishing : exclusive of those for sale, the number and weight of turkies only would surpass belief. From an historical account of Norwich it appears that between Saturday morning and the night of Sunday, Dec. 22, 1798, one thousand seven hun dred turkies, weighing 9 tons, 2 cwt. 21bs., value 6801., were sent from Norwich to London ; and two days after, half as many more. DEVOUT OXEN.—According to Mr. Brand 44 a superstitious notion prevails in the western parts of Devonshire that at twelve o'clock at night on Christmas-eve, the oxen in their stalls are always found on their knees, as in the attitude of devotion ; and that, which is more singular, since the alteration of the style, they continue to do this only on the eve of old Christmas-day. An honest countryman, living on the edge of St. Stephen's Down, near Launceston, Cornwall, informed me, Oct. 28, 1790 (says the same au thority), that he once, and some others, made a trial of the, truth of the above, and watching se veral oxen in their stalls at the above time, at twelve o'clock at night, they observed the two oldest oxen only fall upon their knees, and, as he expressed it in the idiom of the country, " make a cruel moan like Christian creatures." He seemed to" marvel at my unbelief." CHRISTMAS IN THE COURTS OF LAW, There were anciently great doings in the halls of the Inns of Court at Christmas time. At the Inner Temple, early in the morning, the gentle men of the Inn went to church, and, after the service they did " presently repair into the hall to breakfast with brawn, mustard, and malmsey.' At the first course at dinner, was " served in, a' a fair:and large Bore's he a d, upon a silver plat ter, with minstralsaye," says Dugdale. This custom is still observed at Queen's Col lege, Oxford, and tradition represents this usage as a commemoration of an act of valour per formed by a student of the College, who, while walking in the neighbouring forest of Shotover, and reading Aristotle, was suddenly attacked by a wild boar. The furious beast came open mouthed upon the youth, who, however, very courageously, and with a happy presence of mind, is said to have "rammed in the volume," and cried, Grcecum est, fairly choking the savage with the sage. noUnshed says, that in the year 1170, on the day of the young Prince's coronation, King Henry 11., " served his son at the table as sewer, bringing up the Bore's head, with trum pets before it, according to the manner. THE SHIPS EREBUS and TERROR. Extracts of a Despatch from Captain James Ross, of her Majesty's ship Erebus, dated Van Diemen's Land, April 7, 1841, and addressed to th e Secretary of the Admiralty : I have the honour to acquaint you with the arrival of her Majesty's ship under my command, and the Terror, under my orders, this afternoon at this port. I have further to report to you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that in ac cordance with the intentions expressed in my despatch to you, - dated from Hobart Town on the 11th of Nov. last, I proceeded to Auckland Islands, and satisfactorily accomplished a complete series of magnetemetric ob servations cn the important term-day of November last. Under all the circumstances, it appeared to me that it would conduce more to the advancement of that branch of science for which the expedition has been more expressly sent forth, as well as for the extension of our geo graphical knowledge of the Antarctic regions, to en deavour to penetrate to the southward, or about the 170th degree of east longitude, by which the isodynamic oval, and the point exactly between the two foci of greater magnetic intensity, might be passed over and determined, and directly between the tracks of the Rus sian navigator Bellinghausen and our own Capt. James Cook; and after entering the Antarctic Circle, to steer S. W. towards the Pole, rather than attempt to approach it directly. from the north, on the unsuccessful footsteps of my predecessors. Accordingly, on'leaving Auckland Islands ion.ehe 12th December, we proceeded to the southward, touching for a few days at Campbell Island fur magnetic purposes and, alter passing among many icebergs to the southward of 63 deg. latitude, we made the Pa c k Ed ge , an d en t e red the Antarctic Circle on the Ist day of January, 1841. This pack presented none of those formidable charac ters which I had been led to expect from the accounts of the Americans and French ; but the circumstances were sufficiently unfavourable to deter me from entering it at this time, and a gale from the northward inter rupted our operations for three or four days. On the sth January we again made the pack, about 100 miles to the eastward, in latitude 66 deg. 45 min. south, and longitute 174 deg. 16 min. east, and although the wind was blowing directly on it, with a high sea running, we succeeded in entering in it without either of the ships sustaining any injury, and, after penetrating a few miles, we were enabled to make our way to the south ward with comparative ease and safety. On the following three or four days our progress was rendered more difficult and tedious by thick fogs, light winds, a heavy swell, and almost constant snow show ers ; but a strong water-sky to the S.E., which was seen at every interval of clear weather, encouraged us to per severe in that direction, and on the morning of the 9th, after sailing more than 200 miles through this pack, we gained a perfectly clear sea, and bore away S.W. towards the Magnetic Pole. On the morning of the 11th January, when in latitude 70 deg. 41 min. South, and longitude 172 deg. 36 ruin., land was discovered at the distance, as it afterwards proved, of nearly 100 miles, directly in the course we were steering, and therefore directly between us and the Pole. Although this circumstance was viewed at the time with considerable regret, as being likely to defeat one of the more important objects of the expedition, yet it re stored to England the honour of the discovery of the southernmost known land, which had been nobly won, and for more than twenty years possessed, by Russia. Continuing our course towards this land for many hours, we seemed scarcely to approach it. It rose in lofty mountain peaks of from 9,000 to 12,000 feet in height, perfectly covered with eternal snow; theglaciers that descended from near the mountain summits, pro jected many miles into the ocean, and presented a per pendicular face of lofty cliffs. As we neared the land, I s v o a m r d e s e a x p s omsaepall tches of rock rthep ti rpose appeared, o and feffecti s n t g eer a ing to- land ing, we found the shore so thickly lined for some miles with bergs and pack-ice, and with a heavy swell dash ing against it, we were obliged to abandon our purpose and steer towards a more promising looking point to the S.E., off which we observed several small islands ; and on the morning of the 12th I landed, accompanied by Commander Crozier and a number of the officers of each ship, and took possession of the country in the name of her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. The island on which we landed is composed wholly of igneous rocks, numerous specimens of which, with other imbedded minerals; were procured. It is in latitude 71 deg. 56 min. S., and longitude 171 deg. 7 min. E. Observing that the east coast of the mainland tended to the southward, whilst the north shore took a N.W. I direction, I was led to hope that, by penetrating to the south as far as practicable, it might be possible to pass beyond the Magnetic Pole, which our combined obser vations placed in 76 deg. S. nearly, and thence, by steer ing westward, complete its circumnavigation. We ac cordingly pursued our course along this mag,nifieent land, and on the 23d January we reached 74 deg. 15 min. S., the highest southern latitud e t h at h a d ever b een a ttained by any preceding navig a t ors , an d that b y our own coun tryman, Captain James Weddell. Although greatly impeded by strong southerly gales, thick fogs, and constant snow -storms, we continued the examination of the coast to the southward, and on the 27th we again landed on an island in latitude 76 deg. 8 min. S., 168 deg. 12 min. E., composed, as on the for mer occasion, entirely of igneous rocks. Still steering to the southward, early the next morn ing, the 28th, a mountain of 12,400 feet above the level of the sea was seen, emitting flame and smoke in splendid profusion. This magnificent volcano received the name of Mount Erebus. It is in latitude 77 deg. 32 min. S., and longitude 167 deg. E. an extinct crater to the east ward of Mount Erebus, of a somewhat less elevat i on, was called Mount Terror. The mainland preserved its southerly tending, and we continued to follow it, until, in the afternoon, when close in with the land, our farther progress in that direction was prevented by a barrier of ice stretching away from a projecting cape of the coast directly T his extraordinary the E .S. E barrier p resente d a r . face of at least 150 feet, rising, of course, far above the mast-heads of our ships, and completely concealing from our view everything beyond it, except only the tops of a range of very lofty mountains in a S.S.E. direction, and in latitude 79 deg. a Pursuing the examination of this splendid barrier to the eastward, we reached the latitude of 78 deg. 4 min. S., the highest we were at any time able to attain, on the 2d February, and on the 9th, having traced its continuity to the longitude of 191 deg. 23 min. in latitude 78 deg. S., a distance of more than 300 miles, our farther pro gress was prevented by a heavy pack, pressed closely against the barrier; and the narrow lane of water by means of which we had penetrated thus far, became so completely covered by rapidly forming ice, that nothing but the strong breeze with which we were favoured enabled us to retrace our steps. When at a distance of less than half a mile from its lofty icy cliffs, we had soundings with 318 fathoms, on a bed of soft blue mud. - With a temperature of 20 deg. below the freezing point, we found the ice to form so rapidly on the sur face, that any farther examination of the barrier in so extremely severe a period of the season being impracti cable, we stood away to the westward, for the purpose of making another attempt to approach the Magnetic Pole, and again reached its latitude (76 deg. S.) on the 15th February; and although we found that much of the heavy ice had drifted away since our former attempt, and its place in a great measure supplied by recently formed ice, yet we made some way through it, and got a few miles nearer the Pole than we had before been able to accomplish, when the heavy pack again frustrated all our efforts, completely filling the space of 15 or 16 miles between us and the shore. We were this time in latitude 76 deg. 12 min. S., and longitude 164 deg., the dip being 88.40, and variation 109.24 E. We were, of course, only 160 miles from the Pole. Had it been possible to .approach any part of this coast, and have found tiny place of security for the ships, we might have travelled this short distance over the land; but this proved to be utterly impracticable ; and although our hopes of complete attainment have not been realized, it is some satisfaction to feel assured that we have ap proached the Pole more nearly, by some hundred miles, than any of our predecessors ; and from the multitude of observations that have been made in both ships, and in so many different directions from it, its position can accuracy as if we h be ad de a t e e t r ii m ai i i n y ed re vv ac i h tl e i d n t e h a e rly spo a t s its m e u lt ch It had ever been an object of anxious desire with us to find a harbour for the ships, so as to enable us to make simultaneous observations with the numerous ob servatories that would be at work on the important term-day of the 28th of February, as well as for other scientific purposes ; but every part of the coast where indentations appeared, and where harbours on other shores usually occur, we found so perfectly filled with perennial `ice, of many hundred feet in thickness, that all our en deavours to find a place of shelter for our vessels were quite unavailing. Having now completed all that it appeared to me possible to accomplish in so high a latitude, and at so advanced a period of the season, and desirous to obtain as much information as possible of the extent and form of the coast we had discovered, as also to guide in some February, for the north part of this land, and which, by me asure our future operations, I bore away, on the 18th favour of a strollg southerly gale, Av e reac h e d on t h e morning of the 2t. ' We again endeavoured to effect a landing on this part of the coast, and were again defeated in our attempt by the heavy pack, which extended for many miles from the shore, and rendered it impossible. For several days we continued to examine the coast to the westward, tracing the pack-edge along, until, on the 25th February, we found the land abruptly to ter minate in latitude 70 deg. 40 min. S., and longitude 1.65 deg. E., tending considerably to the southward of west, and presenting to our view an immense space occupied 'by Ia dense pack, now so firmly cemented together by tie newly-formed ice, and so covered by recent snow, as V present the appearance of one unbroken mass, and defy • ing every attempt to penetrate it. The great southern land we have discovered, whose continuity we have traced from nearly the 70th to the 79th degree of latitude, I am desirous to distinguish by the name of our Most Gracious 'Majesty Queen Victoria. Following the edge of the pack to the N.W. as wea ther permitted, we found it to occupy the whole space between the N.V. shore of the great southern land and the chain of islands lying near the Antarctic . Circle, first discovered by Balleny in 1839, and_more extensively explored by the American and French expeditions in the following year. Continuing our course to the westward, we approached the place where Professor Gauss supposed the Magnetic Pole to be, and having obtained all the observations that were necessary to prove the inaccuracy of that supposi tion, we devoted some days to the investigation of the line of no variation ; and having completed a series of observations, by which the isodynamic lines and point of greater magnetic intensity may be determined, and which I had left incomplete last year, I bore away on the 4th of April for this port. A chart, showing more plainly the discoveries and track of the expedition, is herewith transmitted ; and a more detailed plan, containing all magnetic determina - tion, shall be sent as soon as they are reduced. I have much satisfaction in being able to add that the service has been accomplished without the occurrence of any casualty, calamity, or disease of any kind, and there is not a single individual in either of the ships on the sick list. It affords me the highest gratification to acquaint you, that I have received the most cordial and efficient co operation from my well-tried friend and colleague Com mander Crozier, of the Terror, and no terms of admira- tion that I can employ can do justice to his great merit; nor have the zeal and persevering devotion of the offi cers of both ships been less conspicuous, under circum stances of no ordinary trial and difficulty ; and whilst the conduct of our crews has been such as to reflect the highest honour on their characters as British sailors, it has given to myself, Commander Crozier, and the officers of the expedition, the most confident assurance of more extended success in pursuing the important duties we have yet to fulfil. HORRIBLE MURDER. (Abridged from the Dublin Pilot of Wednesday.) The inhabitants of the neighbourhood of Upper Bag got-street and Pembroke-road were on Monday evening thrown into a state of the greatest excitement arid alarm, in consequence of the discovery of a shocking murder, which took place between six and seven o'clock on that evening. It was perpetrated in a stable-lane at the rear of Pembroke-road. The unfortunate victim is a boy, apparently between ten and eleven years of age ; and, judging from the apparel which covered the body at the time it was discovered, he evidently belonged to an hum ble class of society. He was however, a fine handsome boy, with curly hair of a light colour. Although crowds of persons visited the body yesterday, no person recognised it. The throat was cut from ear to ear, and a large con tused wound on his forehead. Inspectors Finnamore, Carmody, and Durham, are very active in their exertions to trace the murderer ; and a person named John Dela hunt is in custody, on suspicion of being concerned in the foul deed. It must be recollected that this person was one of the witnesses against Cooney, the tinker, who was tried for the murder of the Italian. He swore that he saw the murder committed ; but his statement was not credited at the time. He is a young man about twenty years of age. On Tuesday, at one o'clock, Dr. M'Carthy, County Coroner, with the Jury, assembled at Mr. Fleming's, in Upper Baggot-street, and proeeeded with THE INQUEST. The first witness produced was Elizabeth Waters, who resides in the stable-lane at the end of Pembroke-road. She stated that she was called on by her two children in the evening ; they told her a child was dead at Miss Brady's gate in the lane ; she then went to the place described, and found a boy lying dead there ; did not then examine the boy, but she saw the boy's throat cut afterwards ;.there was blood on his clothes, and on the road about his body a good deal ; did not know the de ceased boy. John Delahunt was then called, and the Coroner told him he was at present a witness, although in custody. He need not answer any questions which might tend to his own crimination. There never was, with the excep tion of that of the Italian boy, a more horrid murder than this committed in this country, and he hoped the guilty party would be discovered. Delahunt then stated as follows:—I live in Eastmorland-place. There is no number on the house. I was in a field outside the wall while the murder was committing. CORONER—Was it committed by a man or woman? Witness—By a woman. I heard no noise, nor did I hear the child cry. The hour was between five and six o'clock. I saw the woman. She wore a large plaid shawl, red and green colour, and white plain cap and dark gown. She was from 18 to 20, or from that to 30 years of age. I could not see the coloumt of her hair, but what I did see of it was black. I did not hear the woman speak. I was at Mr. Clarke's, in Baggot•street, with a letter, and was coming from that when I first saw the woman and the boy. To a Juror—l got the letter from a woman, but I. don't know who she was. I dropped the letter in Mr. Clarke's box. By the Coroner—l saw the woman and the boy coming from Baggot-street towards the Bridge. The woman was beating the boy on the neck, and he was crying. She bid the child go on. He was in his bare feet, and seemed to be cold. I was in view of the woman to the end of Eastmorland-lane, and saw her go down the stable-lane. Juror—What did you do after you saw the woman commit murder ? Did you call for the polio ? Witness—l returned back and went out of a gap.. I did not go back near the child. There is no lamp in the lane. I did not pursue the woman. I did not know if the child was dead at the time, but I knew something. had been done to it. I made as much haste as I could then to Mr. Barrett, of the Castle-yard, and told him the story. Juror—What did you tell him particularly. Witness —I told him she cut the throat of the child ; I told him she then threw the child from her, but I did not know what she did with it ; he asked me if the child was dead, I said I did not know ; I did not mention to Mr. Bar rett any thing about a knife ; Mr. Barrett went into Major Brown's house, and then he came with me to Lad lane, and Inspector Carmody was sent with me. The witness was then removed in custody. The Jury requested that a medical gentleman should examine Delahunt's foot, and see if it was sore, as stated. Surgeon Fox, who was present, did so, and stated that Delahunt had a sore heel, but not of such a nature as to impede his walking or running. Eliza Weldon, a girl about fifteen years of age, stated that she saw Delahunt last (Monday) night, about eight o'clock, and heard Delahunt's mother say he was gone home with a stray child. Heard Delahunti say he left the child in some street, and that the child found its way home. A Juror—You heard him say that ? Witness—Yes, I did ; he said when hecame to the corner of a street that it found its way home ' • this was before he said he was going to take tea with Mr. Barrett. Eliza Mason, a more intelligent child, about thirteen years of age, stated that she saw John Delahunt on Mon day evening, about six o'clock, on the road in Upper Baggot-street; he had a little boy with him—(Sensa tion)—the boy was a round-faced pretty little boy ; she saw the murdered boy, but did not think it was the boy she saw the night before ; this (a cap) is the very same as the boy had on last (Monday) night. _ _ Mary :Delahunt, of 9, Eastinorland-place, sistcr of the prisoner, was the next witness. She corroborated in every particular the evidence of the girl Mason. Thomas Delahunt, brother to the prisoner, stated that the prisoner on the night had a little strange boy with him at the time. The child was about nine or ten years of age. The child, in reply to the wife of witness, said his name was Tom M‘Guire. The witness described the child's dress, and the prisoner said he took the child to leave it in Buckingham-street. Juror—Did you see the child again ? Witness—l did ; I was brought down to see it now ; and, to the best of my opinion, it is the same child • the prisoner told wit ness that he left the child in dumberland-street, and that it then knew the way home. The wife of the last witness was then produced, and corroborated his evidence. She appeared greatly affect ed, but identified the child most positively as that which she saw in her room with the prisoner. On the conclusion of the evidence, Delahunt being called, the Jury brought in a verdict of " Wilful mur der" against him, John Delahunt, for the murder of Thomas Maguire. He was then committed to Kilmain ham, under the Coroner's warrant, to stand his trial. DANNEEER'S ARIA DNE.— A Correspondent has furnished us with an account of the manner in which at Mr. Gebruder Bethmann's (or Bateman's, as English residents call him) at Frankfort, this exquisite statue is viewed by visitors. Mr. Bethmann's museum is situated on the ramparts, and in an -adapt' room at the end of his hall, the Ariadne reclining on a Panther's back, is discovered in the middle of the floor, upon a pedestal of grey stone. The Keeper of the Museum turns outside a wheel, by means of which the pedestal revolves slowly round, to enable the company to see the statue on every side without leaving-their seats. When the pedestal has resumed its place, the man touches a spring, and a win dow, exactly to fit the one by which the room receives its light, flies up, covered with stained glass of a soft flesh-coloured hue, so that the white Ariadne is now a naked nymph, fresh, and as living flesh itself before you, The groupe turns round once more, and you have seen a composition alone worth while to go up the Rhine to" Frankfort for. The keeper sells a tolerably good litho graphic print of the Ariadne, which everyone buys to carry home as a memento of Danneker's celebrated work. AWFUL OCCURRENCE.—One of those lament able and fatal instances of allowing coke or charcoal to burn in a bed-room, occurred at the Court of Requests office, Shelton, on Saturday night. The apartment which was the dormitory of the old couple who had charge of the premises, is very small, and without chimney or ventilator. On retiring to rest the old people put some cinders in a pan, to supply warmth, ignorant of the deleterious nature of the gas evolved, even when ventilated ; and this was more so, because the place had been some months shut up, of course was damp, and had been recently whitewashed, with the other pail of the premises. When a person went to the place next Ilion - ling, no answer being given, he forc e d an entry, and gave an alarm. The •old man was dead, and had been so some hours ; the old woman was alive, but expired about eight o'clock. A Coroner's inquest was held on Monday, when a verdict of " Died by in haling sulphurous gas, while asleep," was returned. — Staffordshire Gazette. The Duke of Wurtemburg (widower of the Prin cess Mary of Orleans) and sister arrived at Brussels on Tuesday, by the iron railway, and proceeded in a Royal carriage, which was waiting for them, to the Palace, where their Majesties received him. LORD STOURTON'S LETTER. The following appears in the Leeds Mercury : " Gentlemen—Whatever controversy has arisen as to the moral causes, or the precise extent of the present ,distress, none can exist as to its prevalence at the pre sent period, in a most calamitous and alarming degree. This distress pervades wide districts, and prevails in some with an intensity I have never to my mind seen equalled in this kingdom, covering our roads with artizans in search of employment, and exhibiting itself in our towns under appearances the most calamitous and frightful. Failing harvests both at home and abroad have aggravated these national calamities; and a murrain among our cattle, con sequent in all probability on rainy reasons, has placed milk, one of the great resources, and with tea, almost necessaries of our labouring people, nearly out of their reach. Wars in the east of the globe and pecuniary em barrassments in the west, have combined to extend the evil. Among so many concurrent sources of distress, one ray of brightness has beamed upon us : and that it should not only gild the palace, but shed its lustre on the cottage, is the main object of these observations. Not, Gentlemen, that I should not have deemed the aspect of our wide-extended dis tress more than sufficient ground for extraordinary exertions in behalf of so much suffering: for seasons of great urgency in peace, as in war, demand and justify their peculiar sacrifices. Yet it must strike every loyal and thinking subject, that no offering to the Deity can more propitiate his mercies, both in favour of die Sovereign and her infant son, than an extensive—l would fain add, universal contribution of the wealthier classes at this doubly inclement season, towards alleviating the suffer ings of his creatures. That such an effort should be both powerful and availing, I know no better channel for advice and co-operation than your valuable columns. Without colour of party or of creed—without one word of controversy or crimination, I am willing to believe that all will equally concur in a wish to mitigate the lot of suffering humanity, if not in the mode of compassing so salutary an end. Whether this object may be best accomplished by some great county movement, carrying its influence through the land, with a weight due to its own import ance, and still more due to the ends it would attain ; or whether any other suggestion shall be adopted equally or more efficient, I willingly abandon to superior, as well as more experienced minds. Of this, how ever, I am convinced, that in an empire, where, in our own times, a milliard of money has been ex pended to strengthen the sinews of war, one million at least might be attainable to add vigour to those best and strongest sinews of our country in peace as in war, viz. :—the happiness and contentment of an- industrious and moral people. Exposed to great fluctuations from our very artificial condition, we may be called upon by prudence to meet extraordinary pressure by extraordi nary aid.—Qui ciao dat, his dot, is my motto.—l remain, Gentleman, your obedient humble servant, STOURTON. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, THURSDAY. - The Queen and Prince Albert walked for some time this morning in the Slopes and Little Park. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Fanny Howard, also took walk ing exercise this forenoon on the Terrace of the Castle. The Duke of Buckingham, the Marquis of Exeter, and the Earl of Rosslyn, took their departure from the astle this morning. The Hon. Amelia Murray and the Hon. Harriet Lister have arrived and succeeded Lady Caroline Cocks and the Hon. Sarah Mary Cavendish, as the Maids of Honour is Waiting on her Majesty. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge arrived in town yesterday from his residence at Kew, and visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, at Glou cester House. In the afternoon his Royal Highness re turned to Kew. Monseignore Capaccini, Under-Secretary of State of the Papal Government, on a special mission, Inter nuncio to the Court of Lisbon, was presented to the Earl of Aberdeen, at the Foreign-office, by the Baron de Moncorvo, Portuguese ➢Minister. A petition was yesterday presented to her Most Gra cious Majesty, very numerously signed by Merchants, Clergymen, Traders, and inhabitants of the Metropolis and its environs, praying for the commutation of the im posts on Waterloo, Southwark, and Vauxhall bridges, for the benefit of the public. Dr. Heller, Member of the Royal Academy of Medicine, Paris, lately communicated to his Society, that in Greece it is a practice to observe the tongues of those persons who have been bitten by dogs, because at the end of eight or nine days there appears' on each side of the tongue, and near the under part, pustules called lysses by the Greeks. These pustules contain the whole rabid matter, and immediately they appear they are cut out and the wounds cauterised, which prevents hydrophobia. TYE LORD STEWARD. — The chief officer for the civil government of the Court is the Lord Steward, always a member of the Privy Council. His authority is important, having the sole direction of the Royal household below stairs, and the control of a numerous train of inferior offices ; his power extending over all the officers and servants, except those of thq chapel, cham ber, and stable. He is Judge of all crimes committed within the Court or the verge. He receives his charge by the delivery of a white staff or wand, the symbol of his appointment. The present Lord Steward is the Earl of Liverpool. His Lordship was born the 29th of May, 1785, and succeeded, as third Earl, upon the decease of his half-brother, 4th of December, 1828. ALARMING FlRE.—Yesterday morning, a few past twelve o'clock, the family of Schobell, Esq., a gentleman residing at No. 4, Lownde's-square; Knights bridge, were thrown into a most extraordinary state of alarm and excitement by the discovery of the upper part of the splendid mansion being on fire. It appears that the servants were proceeding upstairs to bed, when they found the upper part of the house enveloped in a dense smoke. On one of them entering one of the attics, the flames burst forth; an alarm was immediately raised, and messengers instantly dispatched for the aid of the engines. On entering the premises the firemen found that the fire had burnt through the flooring of the attic into one of the best bed-rooms on the second-floor, and the flames were making great progress. By the great exertions of the firemen they succeeded in extinguishing the fire, and preserved the splendid mansion and furniture, before any extensive damage was sustained. It is not known in what manner the fire could posssibly have originated. It proved a fortunate circumstance the family had not retired to bed, otherwise the consequences would have been attended, perhaps, with fatal ones. A ROBBER KILLED.—Late on the night of Saturday week Mrs. Allsop, wife of Mr. Allsop, of Rowley, near this town, thinking she saw a light in an old mill nearly adjoining the house, in which a quantity of potatoes were stowed, awoke her husband, who, ac companied by his son and a servant-boy, went to the building, and on entering found two men, one of whom, named Hunt, immediately struck at Mr. Allsop with a fork he had in his hand. Mr. Allsop being armed with a poker, returned the compliment by a tremendous blow on the head, which, fracturing the skull, laid the robber dead at his feet ; the other intruder surrendered at dis cretion. A Coroner's inquest has been held upon the body of Hunt, but was adjourned for the purpose of ob taining further evidence.— Worcestershire Chronicle. THE DISTRESSED LETTER-PRESS PRINTERS IN LONDON.—On Wednesday evening last a sermon was preached in the Church of St. Michael's-le-Belfrey, York, by the Rev. T. Myers, M.A., on " The Religious Influence of Printing," from the text Proverbs ch. 18, v. 21. A collection was made after the sermon, the pro ceeds of which will be devoted to alleviating the dis tresses of the unemployed letter-press printers in London. Leeds Mercury. NORTH MIDLAND RAILWAY.—We are happy to find that the price of shares in this great public undertaking has of late considerably advanced, a fact at which we are not at all surprised, considering it is one of the great arteries through which the traffic of the North of England flows, and which will become still more ex tensive when the projected Darlington and Newcastle Railway is completed.—Leeds Mercury. It is rumoured that a serious fracas has taken place between the Premier and the amiable Earl of Car digan, respecting the Lord Lieutenantcy of Northamp tonshire, vacant by the Earl of Westmoreland's death. The gentle disciplinarian, being a very large landed pro prietor, we have heard the largest in the county, assert ed his claim to the office; but the wily Premier, though he contrived to invest hs opponents with the peculiar credit that flowed from retaining his Lordship in a reg.i ment, after his competence for command had been %el fully established, was by no means desirous of securing for himself the merit of placing him in a position where the mild Nobleman might find a wider field for the ex ertion of his benignity. The application was accordingly refused, in terms unctuous, but decided; and the refusal so ruffled the usually placid character of his Lordship's temper, that Sir Robert Peel was obliged to manoeuvre in order to escape the rising storm. But the " peculiar art," for which Lord Stanley has given himcrehdit,rditds utland a b s ire to been ot not desert the Premier on this occasion. By a dexterous stroke of management the Marquis transferred from the Lieutenantcy of of Exeterß that of Northamptonshire, and the E ar l of sCardigan having no estates in the former cou n ty, Sir Robert has thus escaped from the delicate dilemma. Whether the good-natured Peer is equally satisfied with the arrange ment, we leave our readers to infer.---ChrOnirle. MORE FRAUDS.--. the affairs of Mr. Howe, Mo of the n t t h i o e n stoc h a k s E b x e c e h n m . nv a , d i o , o f was obliged some time ago to compound for his difterenees with the house. the dishonest conductmajesty's of a person holding her defalcations arose chiefly from commission in the navy It appears that the per son alluded to authorised . Mr. llowe to purchase Spanish Stock for him to the e xtent of 120,000/. a r. n d o e w c e ll s ne occurrin from 23 to This was unfortunately done without security, and i to principalprovide forhewas We e t 1 7 per cent., and notice the transaction for the 7,0001. a decampinglossof upwardsfe r Calais,o i. purpose more particu larly of putting people upon their guard, because We have before us a letter from the party by . whom Mr. Howe was so scandalously duped, containing an order to another broker of respectability to pur chase for him 100,000/. of Spanish Actives, with the coupons, at the m arket price of the day, he (the broker) picking them TIP for him as quietly as possible, and fur nishing a note of the cost so soon as the operation should be completed. individual had obtained an introduc tion The to the party. addressed before he retired to the oppo site coast, an d it is fortunate, therefore, for the latter that he should have received, through the disclosures made in Mr. Howe's case, some intimation of the cha racter of the former.—Post. The Tribunal of Frankfort, before which were brought a number of workmen, arrested in the course of the autumn upon a charge of belonging to political asso ciations, has acquitted most of them, and condemned the remaining few to imprisonment for ten month§. SABBATH OBSERVANCI% TO THE EDITOR OF THE SU Sift,—lt is only this moment that I have re ceived your paper of the 20th, or "J. S. (Bays water)" would have had an earlier notice of his Sabbath letter, at least, with your permission. I add such notice underneath. H. PRICE. Needwood Parsonage, Burton-on-Trent, Dec. 9 2. " J. S. (Bayswater)" seems, by his remarks on my letter, to forget as fast as he reads, and before he can take up his pen to reply:- Ills observa tions, also, on the Sabbath question, are alike inconclusive. He is astonished I cannot find a Christian Sab bath in the words—" At evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut for fear of the Jews, came Jesus, and stood in the midst of them." And I am equally astonished that any one should Think he can and does find a Sabbath in such words! But J. S.'s aptitude.for finding a Sabbath is, indeed, wonderful ! . He can pick one up (Luke xxiv.) under the feet of the two disciples returning from Emmaus, them selves never dreaming of a Sabbath-.day being so near them on the first day of the week—return ing from Emmaus, to which they had gone from Jerusalem that very morning. How is it -that these two disciples were breaking the very first Christian Sabbath, if it was one, almost before our Lord was well-risen from the.dead? Front Acts i., 12, we learn that a Sabbath-day'sjourney was about a mile ; and here we find two dis ciples, on the very. first supposed Christian Sab bath, on the very day of our Lord's rising from the dead, taking a walk of nearly sixteen miles, being, according to St. Luke, three-score fur longs distant, which Josephus thus confirms : " A.aikaoVc CCZE XII nay lEfoo - oAvp-wy crrcamc EE7covlcc," about 71 Ehglish miles! But what makes it certain that these two disciples were not dreaming of that first day of the week being a Sabbath, is the fitct that they did not at that mo ment believe that their Lord was risen from the dead! ! ! J. S. is alike inconclusive in every other part of his quotations and reasonings. A feebler opponent no one could desire ! But I have no desire for one of any kind. My object is not polemical. A great, and generally very ill-understood, subject is now afloat. It has been set afloat to oppose arbitrary and tyrannical pro ceedings, attempted to be founded on THAT OA. CHEM WORD which, rightly interpreted, will be found, of all writings in the world, to present the most powerful barrier against tyranny and oppression of any kind, whether civil, eccle siastical, or spiritual. As my aged opponent seems to be, from his own account, between ten and twenty years older than myself, now, also, an old man, I gladly sheathe my sword, tenderly throw my shield over him, and carry him with only one wound, which could not possibly be avoided, to Sir Andrew Agnew, who, perhaps, may be glad of - so experienced a warrior, and who may sedulously nurse the healing of his wound, pre paratory to thture combat. But J. S. may as well be told (as old age, though timid, is some times obstinate) that if he be again met with in the same field, he must not expect to be again so tenderly handled. SUPPOSED MURDER NEAR SE VERN STOKE. Early on Sunday morning last, a man named Richard Kinton, was found lying dead on the turnpike road about five or six miles from Worcester, on the way; Tewkesbury. On his shoulder were marks as though a waggon had passed over him; but, from other appear ances on his body, suspicions were raised that something else had a share in his death, upon which a labouring man, named Tippin, who resides, with his wife and three children, in a garret at Severn Stoke, was apprehended. On Tuesday an inquest was held by Mr. Hughes, at the Boar's Head Inn, Severn Stoke; and the following facts elicited:— ----____ John Chivers, van driver from Cheltenham to Wor cester, deposed that he met with the deceased at the Bear, Tewkesbury, on Saturday last, and, as he said he was going to Worcester, witness agreed to take him there, although he said that he had no money. They walked along the road by the side of the van until they reached the seventh milestone frym Worcester, when Chivers got into the waggon, and left deceased in care of the horses. Chivers shortly afterwards fell asleep, and awoke about the fifth milestone from Worcester, when he missed the deceased, and hallooed after him ; they went on till he had reached the gate about a mile out on that road, and acquainted the gatekeeper and, subsequently, two policemen with the circumstances. Superintendent Manton, who apprehended the pri soner, found on him a knife which was clearly identified by the landlord of the Blue Bell as that which he had seen in the possession of the deceased, and he also found a whip, which was identified and owned by the van driver. _ _ _ Superintendent Craig also searched the prisoner's lodgings, and found a smock-frock with marks of blood on it; and in reply to his inquiries, the prisoner said he found the knife on the turnpike-road ; and yesterday morning he discovered a small quantity of tobacco in the prisoner's room, wrapped in a piece of the Worcester Journal, a very singular coincidence, if it be accidental, for Mr. Wagstaff, the landlord of the Blue Bell, gave the deceased a small quantity of tobacco, on Saturday even ing, screwed up in a piece of the Worcester Journal The prisoner, in his Aefence, accounted for the posses sion of the tobacco by saying that he had purchased it at the Barley Mow, the landlord of which is in the habit of wrapping his tobacco in old newspapers ;- as to the knife he had picked it up on Sunday morning, between Hill Croome and Severn Stoke, as he was taking a (log to the former place. He confessed that he was at the Albion, in Worcester, on Saturday night, with three other men, two of whom are named Powell and Stanton ; and he said that on his way home he met a man at Smallbrook, with some one sitting on the shafts. The whip, which was produced, he stated he had never seen before. The smock-frock he said was marked with blood from a sheep's head which he had bought from Mr. Green, of Kinnersley, on the Bth instant. The inquest was then adjourned till to-morrow (Thursday).— Worcester Journal. Lord Rolle has given 2,000/. to build a new bridge across the rive Torridge in connection with the proposed new road to Little Torrington.— Western Lu minary. A LOCK-JAW FROM THE PRICK OF A PIN. —Yesterday morning, Mrs. Mary Peacock, residing at No. 14, Henrietta-street, Manchester-square, was admit ted into the Middlesex Hospital, having been seized with a locked-jaw. It appears that she had been washing some linen last night, when she accidently ran a pin into her left thumb, which has occasioned lock jaw. LORD CHANCELLORS. — The three Chancel lors who have held the seals o f office lon g est are, Lord Ellesmere, twenty years within a few days ; Lord Hard wicke, twenty years and nine months ; and Lord Eldon, during the two periods of his being in office, twenty-five years within a few days. Louis XlV.—The appetite of this monarch was so remarkable, that, we are informed, he used fre quently to eat at dinner four plates of soup, a whole pheasant, a partridge, a large plateful of salad, mutton with gravy and with garlic, two good slices of ham, and l u e p .G y r ztez_daz T a h t e thoerieGnetanlerastlearmoesrt-offfiorceG, Gib raltar, a plateful of pastry, besides fruit and sweetmeats. Greece, the lonian Islands, Egypt, and POST-OFFICE NOTICE.--The folio wing notice r Ali n l a s t r a t r i l :n u ' l, s t - I alts, Indian Mails of the 31st, via Falmouth." " The Over land Mail to India and Egypt, of made up here on the 4th of January, e Bri tannia, for the American Mail the 3 d o f January, 1842, via Liverpool. The Correcti ona l T r ib una l of via Marseilles, will be anuary, 1842. ' Th e of several persons, arrested as Hautes Alpes, has been days on the trial Gap, in the employed three in the dis turbances at St. onnet, in the beginning of September, participators to short periods in opposition to the census. Sixteen prisoners were brought to the bar, and all were sentenced small fines. We observe that the new Roman Catholic o f imprisonment,- from five to twenty days, or else to cathedral now in progress of erection in St. George's fields, S ey, is fast approaching a state of completion, and from its magnificent seteyatleofanychimitecotiFec; ad ready furnishes a most s in that repully improving neigh public institution from which the expenses bourhood. The funds . . dition to the effect prod a u gr ced . by the other r : s s i p n rendid are derived, is the receipts at the Old Chapel ilidningthe London-road, where those who appreciate sac building d music will find an admirable treat on On that occasion a solemn High Mass of the new Christmas -day. • a nd now includes some of the most distinguished vocal w ill be sung Th e orchestra has been greatly augmented, sful musician Mr. Geor g e Stansbur y . ta l en t of the day, and is under the leadershi p of that suc cesTHE COURTESIES OW WAR.—In the midst of the firing, a white flag being seen hoisted, in the town, hostile preceedings were instantly suspended, - and on a boat proceeding to the shore, the Indian mail, which had arrived by way of Bagdad, was handed to the officer with Suleiman Paella's compliments to the Admiral. Th e latter, on his part, immediately forwarded a warm letter of thanks to the Pacha, and accompanied it with a pac ket of foreign wine, which had been seized in a n Egyp tian vessel directed to Suleiman. Fire was then at once resumed.—Hunter's Expedition to Syria. A GENUINE WOMAN HATER.—" Pray, Sir, will you never marry ?" said a f a ir g irl to a brown old bachelor. " Ahem ! why — l don't knew —yes—madam —I might get married, perhaps, if it were possible to get married to anything but a woman. —Richmond Star. Two men, known to have been before in the bands of justice, being seen on Thursday last at St. Pierre, near Calais, were suspected to be those who on the night of the 29th ult. made the attempt to murder the widow Boulanger at Beau Marais, as we have related, from which she fortunately escaped. Gendarmes sent from Calais in search found and brought them into the pre sence of the poor old woman, who has clearly recognised them both. One is 31 years of age,'named Pierre tiillot, and the other, Francois Grindal, is only 21. They are comm itted for trial. , A melancholy accident occurred at La Rochelle a few days back, where, a fire having accidentally broken out in the nursery of a gentleman's house, his two young children were so dreadfully burnt before assistance could be given, that they expired within twenty-four hours in great torment. . .111 EVENING SUN THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1841 EVENING SUN