The Sun. — London, England, 1867-12-25 00:00:00

THE LATE EDITION of "THE SUN " at 11 J. SMITH'S, 39, Bow-street, Covent-garden. LIFE BOAT SERVlCES.—llaring the St orms of the present year the National Lifeboat Institution has contributed to the saving of 1,027 lives from various ship wrecks and 32 vessels from destruction. The Institution also expended £29,655 in the same period on its Lifeboat Establishments, in addition to granting £2,444 for rewards. The Committee of the institution earnestly appeal to the public for assistance to enable them to meet the continued heavy demands on their 186 Lifeboat Establishments. Contributions will be thankfully received by the London and country bankers, and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis, Esq., at the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi, London. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chatterton. First Morning Performance of the Pantomime on Saturday, Dec. 28, and every Wednesday and Satur day until Feb. 15. Children and schools admitted at reduced prices to the following parts of the Theatre : Stalls, dress circle, and first circle, for Morning Per formance only.— Ou BOXING NIGHT (Thursday), Dec. 2i, and every evening until further notice, will be per formed a new and original Farce, by R. Reece, Esq., en titled HON EYDOVE'S TROUBLES. Characters by Messrs. Jos-ph Irving, C. Warner, J. Moms; Mes dames Kate Haifleur and E. Melville. After which will 1 ->e performed the Drury Lane annual grand Christmas Pantomime, written by E. L. Blanchard, Esq., entitled FAW FEE FO FUM ; or, Harlequin Jack the Giant Killer. The gorgeously beautiful scenery by Mr. William Beverley. The characters in the opening: Miss Poole, Mesdames Edith Stuart, Kate Harfleur, E. Mel ville, Carew, Blair, Corti, Amy Herbert, Hall, and Mdlle. Anais Tourneur, premiere danseuse ; Mr. Joseph Irving (his first appearance this season), Slessrs.lioreland, J. B. Johnstone, Naylor, Pennington, Mitcheson ; Master Edward Lewis, Master Frederick Charles, and Master Russell, the living Miniatures; Master Percy Roselle. Tho Harlequinade includes the services of those popu lar pantomimists (forming a treble company), Messrs. Boleno, C. Lauri, and Tom Dot, clowns ; Messrs. Barnes, Morris, and Master Russel, pantaloons; Messrs. Cormack, S. Saville, and Algar, harlequins; Messrs. Sidney and Jelina, sprites • Mdlles. Fanny Lauri, Adele Marion, and Eugenie Valckenacre, columbines. The Juvenile Christy's Minstrels : Majilton the Gro tesque ; and the celebrated Skaters,_ Madame Fredreka and Mr. Elliott. Stage Manager, Mr. Edward Stirling. The masks, designs, and dresses, from designs by the humorously-renowned Dyk-Wyn-Kyn. The music selected and arranged by Mr. J. 11. Tully. The dances and action of the Ballet, and the general business of the children's scenes, arranged by Mr. John Cormack. Costumes by Mr. S. May and Mrs. Lawler. Private boxes, one, two, three, four, and five guineas; stalls, 75.; dress circle, ss. ; first circle, 4s. ; balcony seats, 3s. ; pit 25.; lower gallery, ls. ; upper gallery, 6d. Box-office open from ten to rive daily. Doors open at half-past six, the performance to commence at seven o'clock. ,FIIEATRE ROYAL, HA YMARKET. Sole Lessee, Mr. Buckstone. TO-MORROW EVENING, OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Mr. Sothern ; Raymond, Chippendale, Rogers, Gordon, Braid, Clark, Coe, &c. ; Mesdames Chippendale, Robertson, Dalton, Wright, Burke, &c. After which, the New BURLESQUE; Messrs, Rogers, Clark, Braid, &c.: Mesdames Burke, Dalton, Wright, &c. To conclude with A KISS IN THE DARK. Mr. Clark, Mr. Gordon, &c Commence at Seven. TIIEATRE ROYAL, ADELPIII. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. WEBSTER. Directress, Mrs. Alfred Mellon. TO-MORROW (Thursday) UP FOR THE CATTTLE SHOW. After which, at 8, NO THOROUGHFARE. Mr. Fechter (his first appearance here), Mr. Billington, Mr. H. Neville, Mr. R. Phillips, Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. C. J. Smith, and Mr. Benjamin Webster; Miss Carlotta Leclercq (her first appearance), Mrs. Alfred Mellon, Mrs. Billington, Mrs. H. Lewis, &c. Commence at 7. OYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. New Manaaement R _ b . Sole Lessee, Mr. B. Webster; Manager, Mr. H. Wigan. TG-MORROW, FROM GRAVE TO GAY. Messrs. H. Neville, 11. Wigan, Addison, and C. Mathews; Mesdames L. Moore and Stirling. To conclude with PETTICOAT PARLIAMENT. Messrs. R. Souter andG. Vincent; Mesdames L. Moore, St. Henry, and E. Farren. _ . Commence at Seven.. R OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Vining. On Boxing Night, Grand Combination of the Two Great Dramas, THE COLLEEN BAWN and THE STREETS OF LONDON. Mr. and Mrs. Dion Boucicault as Myles na Coppaleen and Eily O'Connor, and Mr. Vining as Badger. Messrs. Dominick Murray, J. G. Shore, G. F. Neville, H. For rester, H. Mellon, E. Atkins; Misses Elsworthy, E. Barnett, Rachel Sanger, and Mrs. Addle. Doors open at half-past C, commence at 7. QUEEN'S THEATRE, Long-acre. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Alfred Wigan. First appearance of Mr. J. L. TOOLE. BOXING-NIGHT, Dec. 26, 1867, and Every Evening, Shak spere's Comedy of KATHERINE AND PETRUCHIO. Mr. H. Irving, Mr. W. H. Stephens; Miss Kate Terry. After which, DOING FOR THE BEST; Mr. J. L. Toole. To conclude with THE BIRTHPLACE OF PODGERS; Mr. J. L. Toole. Box-oftice open daily from Ten till Four. HOLBORN THEATRE ROYAL. Sole Proprietor and Manager, ➢lr. Sefton Parry. TO-MORROW, at Seven, THE TWO POLTS. Messrs. E Price anti Widdicornbc. After which, the Grand Comic Pantomime of VALENTINE AND ORSON; or, Harlequin the Big Bear and the Little Fairy. .M,slanws Saunders, Goodall, White; Messrs. Garden, Odeil Arhur; Mdlle. Montero, Miss Ellis, Lupino, Green, and the Ger3at Little Rowelia. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough. On BOXING NIGHT, at 7, KIND TO A FAULT. After which will be produced a Grand Christmas Operatic Oriental Extravaganza " THE CALIPH OF BAGDAD " Messrs. Thorne, James, Turner, Murray; Mesdames A. Swanborough, Johnston.?, Harland, Holt, Aewton, To conclude with NOTHING TO NURSE. CANTERBURY lIALL.-NEW MANAGEMENT. —W. HOLLAND, Sole Lessee, late Proprietor of Weston's Music Hall, High Holborn, will RE-OPEN on BOXING NIGHT, December 26, this favourite old established Music Hall Great Alterations and Improvements are being made, and an entire new Company, comprising most of the popular artistes of the day, will have the honour of appearing. W. Holland's known liberality as caterer for the entertainment of the public is a sufficient guarantee that the amusements will be both novel and unequalled. A new grand Ballet will be produced, under the direction of Mr. Fred. Evans, of the Alhambra and Crystal Palace. Full particulars duly announced. The Bars will be under entire new management, and every article will be of the choicest quality, prices of which are greatly reduced. Admission —Balcony and Area, 6d.; Stalls, superbly carpeted, Is. REMEMBER-BOXIN G N IGHT. LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GUARDIAN CtII. GLENIE, of the Sporting Library, „ 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park, London, W., begs to Inform his customers, and the Licensed Victuallers in general, that he has been appointed Agent for the above-named paper in addition to his agency for the Sporting Edition o f " Trilt Sr's," and can supply the same on Friday evening, if required, in town or country. G. It. G. begs to inform the Trade that he is Agent for the LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN," and can supply it earlier than any other man in London or Country the evening of publi cation. No connection with any other persons. Bally's, Buffs, :Wright's, and M'Call's Guides. All the Daily Papers, Maga zines, and Periodicals as soon as published. Agent for the Joint, Stock Coal Company. Orders by post attended to. TILE "SUN" NEWSPAPER.- G. R. GLEN lE, Sporting Library, 4, Connaught-terrace, Ethrware-road, delivers tho LATE EDITION of the "THE SUN" it the earliest possible moment after leaving the press. He is iblo to deliver Copies in Town, the Suburbs, and in many parts )f the country at a comparatively early hour the same evening, sty 40 runes by nine o'clock. Orders by Post punctually attiandA4 IA I ;011E LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN." J. HOLMES begs to inform his friends, and the public generally, that ho supplies the LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN " as soon as published.—No. 16, Hampstead-road, N.W. 1111 E "SUN" N EWSPAPER.-- G. H. GLENIE delivers the LATE EDITION at Chelsea, 1.40 7 Kilburn. S; Starch-green, 3; WooZwich, 7.30; Uxbridge, 1.20; \Valford, 5.45. WHO'S GRAINGER? LICENSED VICTUALLERS' TOBACCONIST, SIIICETERD'S-BUSIL The SPORTING EDITION of "THE SUN" can be seen at G INGEIVS Establishment, as above, every evening by Eight n'e!oolc. ruHE LATE EDITION of " THE SUN" at JAMES SPEEDY'S, "The Wellington," Wellington-mtreet, St rand „THE SUN” NEWSPAPER.—" The Mitre" Tavern, New Church-street, near the Alpha-road, Pad dington. "THE SCN " (Third Edition), containing the latest Sporting NeWs, Results of Races, Latest Parliamentary Debates, &LI., can be seen as above "All the year round." *** A well-selec.tted and extensive Stock of WINES, SPIRITS, Lc. TIIE LAIEST EDITION of " TIIE supplied as soon af;711,E,:11,31, EWS SPORTINI;I:•.T , i ; r • • • „ rpm; THIRD EDITION of "THE SUN," giving all th,3 SPORTING NEWS of the day, may be seen J EMM Y : , .lANTONS house, "The Swan and Horse Shoe," 32, 1.;t0, Britain, City, E.C. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 25, 1867 IHE LATE EDITION of " THE SUN " at W. SMITIPS, Camden Stores," 78, Park-street, Camden town. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THis DAY.—Morning, lb. 1 1 5 m. I Afternoon, M. 54m To-Monmow.-Morning, 2h. 10m. I Afternoon, 2h. 30m t t h , tr . t t 50--Z6-*.N , • ' 4 ? — cc 1,) WL'iLYESDAY, DEC. 25, 1867. ~- The approach of Christmas with !its holidays and social gatherings is always welcome in England, where old customs, especially if they are associated with our domestic feeelings, are warmly and stead fastly [cherished. It is well that it should be so, for we have not too many holidays, and if we lost our traditional Christmas we should find it hard to find its place. In the press and hurry of modern life there is not much time for the cultivation of the more kindly and genial feelings, and it is well that once a year they should be brought into active play. What with Christmas parties, Christmas pre sents, and Christmas family gatherings, the most lonely and misanthropical amongst us must once in the twelvemonth be shaken out of his isolation and made to acknowledge his kinship with hu manity. Even EBENEZER SCROOGE of famous memory, with all his hatred of Christmas, could not shut out the genial reminders of the season, and found it impossible to forget that it was " merry Christmas." The yeas of grace 1867, however, does not bring our old friend with such a pleasant face as usual. The Fenians, if they have not succeeded in any of their more ambitious objects, have at least the churlish satisfaction of knowing that they have produced a sensible effect on Christmas rejoicings. To some little circles they have brought bereavement and mourning in place of _cheerful laughter and the well-spread l i board. The quadruple funeral which passed through Clerkenwell a day or two ago represented but a small portion of the desolation and misery which a few reckless and daring miscreants con trived to work in the space of a few minutes. Those who have visited the ruins and caught a glimpse of the remains of little cheerful firesides suddenly de stroyed, and the tokens of simple domestic life tell ing their melancholy story to tottering walls and empty air, will give a thought to the sad Christmas of the Fenian victims of Clerkenwell. Instead of jovial reunions and hearty, if humble festivities, they are spending their Christmas tossing on beds of constant pain and danger, tended by strange hands, surrounded by strange faces. They had little reason a few weeks since to foresee so sad a close to the year, and it will be long if ever before they can again spend " a merry Christmas," or welcome with renewed life and energy " a happy New Year." Then, in addition to this melancholy story, the Fenian worthies will contrive to spoil the Christmas of the many hundreds who have to guard the property of themselves or others from attack. The men on duty in many large establish ments will not be more inclined to sympathise with the schemes of the Brotherhood for spending a dull Christmas among counting houses and stores. Luckily our authorities are now so much on the alert, and our population is so thoroughly aroused from its characteristic apathy in matters of the kind, that the mischievous conspira tors will have less opportunity of putting their ne farious schemes into effect. There is no vigilance like that of officials who feel their own interests directly concerned in the effectual discharge of their duties, and in this way we may readily believe that the thousands of special constables who have within the last few days enrolled themselves for the pro tection of the metropolis will prove very efficient guardians of the public peace. The strength and unanimity of the prevailing sentiment has displayed itself strongly in the eagerness with which volunteers have pressed forward, and we may hope that their so doing will convey a useful lesson not only to the disaffected in the sister country, and to the Fenians scattered among ourselves, but to the Americans and Irish Americans across the Atlantic. Whatever opinion they may have of our constitu tion, we are making it quite plain to the world in general that we are thoroughly satisfied with it ourselves, and that whatever faults we may find with our Government and our governors we are not disposed to entrust the task of Reform to other hands. The performances of the Fenian Brother hood, so far as they have as yet shown themselves, are not calculated to inspire much confidence in their administrative capacity any more than in their mutual confidence and agreement. Fenianism, when allowed in New York as much latitude as its leaders could for, soon passed from the sublime to the ridiculous, and the quarrels and dissensions of the leaders, and their lavish appropriation of the funds entrusted to them, pro voked the satire and contempt of the keen-witted Americans. It would not be possible to make the same experiment here, but their dupes would pro bably be as much surprised as any one if they could see the result of it. The fact of the matter, very , likely, is that the so-called " dangerous classes,' who live upon their fellows, are glad to associate themselves with more mischievous and turbulent spirits, who have taken up Fenianism as a profession ; more especially since darkness and fire are to be the attendant satellites of Fenian avengers, burglars and pickpockets may find it de sirable to become suddenly imbued with a sense of the wrongs of Ireland. In other matters the Christmas of 1867 is not altogether a cheerful one. The exceptional mild ness of the season, indeed, has been a blessing to the poor, but the condition of the East-end parishes, where chronic destitution always prevails, and where the dullness of trade has been painfully felt, is more than usually distressing. Here, again, too, however national energy and benevolence came to the rescue, and there is no lack of willing hearts and hands to succour the needy and comfort the afflicted. Thus although we have seen gayer Christmases, we have not seen any that should give us more confidence and satisfaction, since it is not in the time of untroubled prosperity that individuals or institutions can show what they are really worth, but when anxiety, and annoyance, and disappointment fail to shake their courage or to lessen their patriotism, their energy, and their self-reliance. It cannot be said that the aspect of things abroad is very pleasing just now, or can afford those who at this season take a glance at them comprehensively any very favourable anticipations of their future, near or distant. What with one thing or another there is much to dread in the way of a collisio❑ of interests, and those who try to render their assist ance to one nation can hardly venture to do so without offending another one. The most pre scient politician cannot say that there will not be war, and the most sanguine cannot really feel safe in expressing their hopes on the sub ject. As one dwells upon the theme what hosts of recollections throng around, and what dark memories suggest themselves to us of past wars and recent struggles for power and sordid motives of gain. A great deal of the evil that now exists may be traced to the want of principle that pervades the Continental Governments, more especially that of Prussia. We are now reaping the abundant har vest of misery and misfortune that that nation sowed with no sparing hand a few years back. Denmark may tee her wrongs and injuries avenged a hundredfold in many of the painful dilem mas and difficulties that now environ and perplex the nations of Europe, paralyse trade, re strict commerce, injure the credit, and shake the confidence of communities. Where fortune has smiled upon us a great deal of the good has been counteracted by the sinister accounts and warlike rumours so rife abroad ; and when, as unhappily has been the case of late, other things have been proved adverse, bad has been made worse, and a lesser evil converted specially into a great calamity. Thus the celebrated black Friday of last year was partly owing to the state of affairs incidental to the forthcoming war between Austria and Prussia and the expected collision with France. How often during this current year, so near its close, have the funds fallen and the Bourse been de pressed through this and that report that the dark and doubtful state of affairs justified. If it were intended by a moralist to convey a practical warn ing of the fatal effects of evil desires and unworthy endeavours on the part of nations, no less than on that of individuals, where could he find a more im pressive illustration than in the present state of these countries, supposed some years back to be at the summit of prosperity and crowned with suc cess, present and prospective. France, to begin with, is not the France of yore ; she may regain her position and shine forth with increased force and undiminished lustre, but for the nonce she is shorn of some of her prestige through the encroachments of Prussia and the insidious snares of BISMARCK. Austria has had a heavy loss, indeed, and though she retains nominally her position among the countries of Europe, sheis not whatlshe has been. Italy has in some respects made a decided advance, but then again she has lost a great part of her gain through the ill-judged and persistent attacks of fanatical enthusiasts. Even now she is disturbed in her councils, and seems likely to lose her ruling statesmen at a very hazardous and momentous time. Spain is generally not in a very satisfactory state, but at present it is worse than usual through the continual discord promoted by jealous and un principled persons. Russia is verging on a great confusion with the Eastern question in the distance, and the European nationslooking on in mistrust and disapproval. Prussia, which may be called the next successful state by some, is, in reality, far from being the happiest land, through the want of sin cerity that distinguishes its rulers, and the want of public spirit that characterises its people. We hear of liberty having made a great stride, but then, again, we know that Deputies are imprisoned for speaking their minds, and while we are told of an nexation to Prussia being earnestly sought after, we are told that very little, if any, individu ality is allowed to them. Some very short sighted politicians have presumed to lec ture us upon the superior merits of foreign nations to our own, but let practice be pre ferred to precept, and for which foreign rules or regulations would an Englishman give up his free dom and merge his independence for the show of liberty which exists under a military despotism or gagged press, and a conventional Parliament ? Among the blessings which we regard with peculiar thankfulness at this season of the year, surely esti mated at its right value, and ranked at its iightwortb, is the real unpretending nature of our institutions. A glance at foreign nations will convince us of their immeasurable superiority to our own in what is most worth prizing. Peace on earth can hardly be counted among our gifts this Christmas, for there is strife among ourselves, and many troubles in other lands. A useful lesson may be learned, at any rate, even by this adverse condition ; and if right principles were more the standard of action than the greed for territory, and if the happiness of the people were truly sought after among the Kings and Ministers of the Continent, there would, in all pro bability, be a marked improvement in the condition of things, a consummation devoutly to be hoped for ; and we trust that next Christmas will be the dawn, and hail the dayspring of better things, and be illumined by a brighter prospect. WE may congratulate ourselves upon the fact Int the small portion of our Abyssinian army which has been able to get actually into the coun try has fared well enough. So far there has been io resistance and no enemy. The great physical lifficulties, especially want of roads and of water, ppear to have lain on the threshold of their march. From the shore of the Red Sea to Senafe was, no loubt, up-hill work. A strong pull must have been necessary before the advanced brigade had reached twice the height of Mount Snowdon for Senafe is T,OOO feet above sea-level—along the difficult and iangerous mountain pass of Koomaylee. Once there, however, on the elevated table land, their course promises to be smoother than we might have expected. A solitary native chief of the Pro vince of Tigre was reported to be in their vicinity at the head of 7,000 men, but he has professed a friendly disposition. The conciliatory proclamation of gir ROBERT NATTER is said to have had an ex cellent effect ; the appearance of the troops has produced a respectful impression on the natives ; and, above all, the brigade is quite able to take care of itself. So far all is well. But we must not fail to remember that the bulk of the Abyssinian expe dition, at our latest advices, had not yet quitted Annesley Bay, a considerable portion of it had not arrived so far, and that Sir RoßEitr NAPIER, tile commander-in-chief, was directing operations from Bombay. While we have been congratu lating ourselves on the success of the pioneer force, there has been anything but cele rity and good management with respect to the-main body of the expedition. Our difficulty, it'seems, was not to open up a way into the country, but to make use of it after it had been opened up. Although a million sterling had been expended on the Land Transport service, and though our autho rities had three months during which to mature their preparations, when the time came to follow up the Advance Brigade it could not be done. Carriages were not ready, store-ships were unloaded, the Persian and Egyptian labourers were worthless, and everything was in the state of confusion which always ensues when there is no paramount autho rity. During the whole month of November there was no fresh arrival of men, and the whole force to be organised, provided for, and sent forward was only 2,000 men. Yet this seems to have taxed the administrative ability to the utmost, and we are not without some anxiety to know how it will deal with the larger force, for the advent of which every arrangement should have been completed. Time was important, but this delay has been attended by a still greater loss. The low country on which the troops were encamped proved ex tremely healthy to the men, but owing to the want of forage and water it has been death to the mules, horses, and camels. These invaluable animals were dying in great numbers, and apparently the only hope of saving them was to press forward promptly to the elevated ground. The fact that mules required water and forage seems to have been overlooked in the conduct of the expeditiOn. Thousands of them were let loose on a sandy plain, under a scorching heat, and with the atten tions of one muleteer to some fifteen animals, and the natural consequence has been that they have strayed or perished by hundreds. The British tax payer has been providing carcases for Abyssinian vultures at the rate in some cases of £6O a piece, and the complaint is that the vultures cannot devour them fast enough. It is to be remembered that this waste is twofold. Expen sive means have been provided for meeting this want. Condensers have been sent out, but up to the 28th of November not one had been erected. Little as we knew of Abyssinia, Massowali was at least accessible, and Annesley Bay need not have been a terra incognita. The most ordinary foresight could have seen the folly of merely accumulating men and military nsaUriel at such a place as this without arranging for the subsistence of men and animals. How does it come to pass that we begin nearly every war with a blunder ? That a people accustomed to every species of military enter prise, and possessing unlimited resources, should commence each fresh undertaking as though it was the first ? On a small scale, we have here at Annesley Bay the Crimean errors repeated. We are unwilling to believe that the English mind is devoid of that faculty for organising which con tinental nations possess. But it is clear we have much to learn and much to reform. Our military expenditure at the rate of nearly £1 per inhabitant of the United Kingdom is not enough to produce tolerable efficiency. With King TREODPRIIS the consequences may not be serious, but at some critical moment we may find these initial blunders fatal. In the latest European wars victory has followed the first success. Austria owed her com plete humiliation in a seven weeks' war in a great degree to having allowed Prussia to anticipate her. She never recovered the first reverses. We incur the same risk while our military system remains without organisation ; and it is becoming a more pressing question every day how long this state of divided responsibility and inexplicable blundering shall be allowed to continue. The task may be Herculean, but a reform is needed, and it will be well if this expedition contributes to bring it about. It seems little likely to enhance our prestige. LATEST INTELL MENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) AMERICA. NEW YORK, Doc. 24, 6 p.m. The Cimbria has arrived out. COMAIERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Closing Prices—Gold, 134. Sterling exchange on London, 110+. 5-20 United States Bonds, 1081 ; Illinois, 1301; Erie, 72i. Cotton—Middling Up land, 151. PEtILADE LPHIA, Dec. 24. Petroleum, standard white, 24. ITALY. FLORENCE, Dec. 25. Earl Clarendon left yesterday evening for Rome. Lcrd Bloomfield has arrived in Florence. M. Boittel, Chief of the French Police, has also income tax. This was imposed during the winter session of 1798-99, at £lO per cent., or 2s. in the pound, and so it remained on until 1802, which was the Peace of Amiens, the Treaty of which was signed on the Ist of October, 1801, and the late Lord Sidmouth, at that time Mr. Addington, and who was then Prime Minister (the illustrious William Pitt having resigned the year previously, on account of the well-known disagreement between him and King George the Third upon the Catholic Question), came down to the house and voted and carried nein. con. a total repeal of the income tax. On the breaking out of the war again, however, ;in May, 1803, it was put on again at Is. in the pound, or half its former amount ; i. e., £5 per cent. per annum, instead of £lO per cent. per annum, and so it continued for two years, until 1805, when the war had got a great footing again and the immortal Nelson was killed at the battle of Trafalgar, and Pitt had again for the last time become Prime Minister, and then the impost was further increased to 6i per cent., or ls. 4d. in the pound. But a few weeks, not to add days, after England had given the remains of Nelson a public funeral in St. Paul's Cathedral, and while " the fatal wound which caused dismay around" was piercing the hearts of a brave and generous people, William Pitt was gathered to his fathers, " his sun having gone down while it was yet day," and he, too, was buried at the public expense in Westminster Abbey. What followed all readers of the history of the last sixty years full well know. The Whigs, or rather that celebrated and well-known Broad-bottomed Govern ment, came into office; and as I have often in for mer letters remarked to you, the Whigs, who had raved and stormed at the income-tax when first im posed by Pitt in 1798, were only too glad to put it on again at the same amount that Pitt had origi nally levied it, 2s. in the pound. The Whigs, as a party, have invariably been followers, but never originators. Their conduct with regard to the old income tax of 1799 and 1806 was something after the fashion of an old maid, who, so long as she remains a spinster, rails at and condemns her own country, because she does not consider it has done her full justice; but no sooner does she get spliced, and contracts her late mar riage, than her country, which has heretofore been everything that was odious and detestable, is now everything that is charming, delightful, and happy. So the Whigs, who while in opposition had made the income tax their stock in trade against the Government, were the first to make it their stock in trade to suit their own purposes in carrying on the business of the country, when they became possessed of the sweet and savoury things of office. They attempted to do the same thing in 1848, and failed. " Serve them right" was the verdict of the country against them. The income tax, at the time of the last-named date, might fairly have been called the sour grapes of the Whigs. Perhaps I may here be allowed just to digress a little further, and to show that the conduct of the Whigs with regard to the income tax has been quite on a piece with regard to their conduct on almost all other subjects, religious and political. They drove out one King and decapitated another, and yet they were the first, on their return to office in 1830, after a banishment to the regions of the Opposition of (with very little intermission) 70 or 80 years, to vote no less than two palaces and £lOO,OOO per annum to Adelaide, the Queen Con sort of William IV., in the event of her surviving ber royal husband. They too, in 1850, on the death of the late Duke of Cambridge, were the first to vote £24,000 per annum to the House of Cambridge alone. £27,000 per annum had fallen into the Treasury by the decease of the Duke of Cambridge —the country was a gainer, therefore, by only £3,000 per annum—no small sum to save. It is true the Whigs confiscated the estates of the Crown, and at proper intervals have vindicated the majesty of the people ; but nevertheless they have been glad enough always to serve Royalty when it suited their purpose. They who had spent their lives, from childhood almost to old age, in advocating Catholic emancipation, were the first to cry shame on Cardinal Wiseman for the so-called Papal Aggression. To return, however, to the income tax. This tax, after having been increased to £lO per cent. by the so-called Broad-bottomed Government, in 1806, was fixed to remain on until the sth of April, after a general treaty of peace, which was actually the case, as it remained on until April 5, 1815, being the first year after the general peace of 1814. In April, 1815, it was reimposed for one year in order "to wind up," as the saying is. Now in 1816 came the violent battle against it, when Lord Liverpool pro posed to make it a perpetual tax at 5 per cent. Sir William Curtis, and divers other Ministerialists, all went over to the Opposition for the purpose of voting against the income tax, which was, after a somewhat sharp discussion, at once dashed to the ground and banished for a quarter of a century, until reimposed by Peel in 1842. So very unpopular was the tax that, on the motion of Lord Brougham— then popularly known by the name of Mr. Henry Brougham —every paper connected with the tax was burned. And I have been told by those who were living at the time that the cheering of the people continued from the lobby of the old House of Commons to Charing-cross, so intensely unpo pular was the income tax. That a golden opportu nity was then lost for making it (the property tax) a good, sound, permanent, substantial tax, few can deny who have studied the history of the period ; i.e., few sound politicians. The heavy weight of indirect taxation which England groaned under from 1816 down to the passing of the old Reform Bill in 1832 —or, more properly speaking, until the introduction of the new commercial tariff of Sir R. Peel in 1842—was something fearful to contemplate. So fearfully was all kinds of food taxed in those good old days that a large number of persons were kept without the common necessaries of life, and were in fact in a state of complete starvation. When the aforesaid tax was laid on again in 1842 by Peel the emergency was equal to a time of war, albeit we were in a state of profound European peace, but not universal peace, for, as I remarked to you the other day, we were engaged in two distant Eastern wars ; and only the very week Sir R. Peel proposed the income tax accounts were received in England of one of the most bloody and disastrous engagements ever known since the days of the old American war, in the reign of George 111. Now it never can be fair to tax precarious an d professional incomes in the same proportion as in comes derived from fixed and independent property. The gross injustice is so very apparent on the face of it that I trust it is wholly impossible for it to escape the eye of a Reformed Parlia ment. To expect, or even to desire, any altera tion before the Ist of January, 1869, is wholly un desirable, as well as being quite out of the quesdon ; for it is obviously unfair to tax people who work for their living by the sweat of their brove,-subject as all professions and tradesmen are to all the whims, caprices, and changes of human nature, as well as leading a life of complete self-denial, and bearing in mind, as all politicians ought to do, that the least ailment or disease of the brain may deprive a man of gaining his livelihood for ever. Moreover, none who gain their living from trade or profes sional sources can 'ever tell exactly what their real income is—and albeit they tell you, you may take the average calculation of time years or so ; never theless this by no means does away with the present gross unfairness of the present mode of levying the income and property tax. Let a dead onslaught, therefore, be made against our present income and property tax at the general election, which is most certain to take place in the early part of the year 1869, and let all people who feel deeply on the subject, as you and I do, make it a sine qua non with their consti tuents before giving the favoured candidate their vote, on the especial cond'tion of his bringing in a measure for the readjustment and reassessment of the income tax. Direct taxation, provided it is but fairly assessed, is of all modes of taxation the most fair, the most just, and the most equitable. To say that it is impossible to make any distinction between fixed and precarious incomes is to my mind, as I have no doubt it is to yours, the very height of absurdity. On another occasion I will show yo, or attempt to arrived here. MALTA, Dec. 24. Her Majesty's Indian steam transport Serapis, 9 days from Portsmouth, has arrived here, with two batteries, F F and G, of the Bth Brigade, with artillery under Colonel Bruce, and other Indian reliefs, together 3,050 of all ranks, 139 women, and 162 children. The ironclad Lord Clyde has also arrived here from Lisbon and Gibraltar, and the gunboat Trin culo from Patras. The steamer Ceyc (?) has sailed for Alexandria, with stores for the Abyssinian expedition. Heavy North-Westerly gales continue, and many vessels are arrivin g here for shelter. CHINA AND JAPAN. lIGNG KONG (Via Trieste), Nov. 15. According to recent statistics the sanitary condi tion of Shanghai has been greatly improved. It is reported that the Imperial troops have sus tained a severe repulse from the Nienfei, who cap tured their camps and a battery. Great distress prevails in the extreme North, owing to the failure of the crops. In consequence of their having received tele graphic advices, the banks have resumed the six months' usance, thereby causing a heavy fall in the exchanges. Tonnage is very scarce in all the ports of China. The international boat race between the English and Americans at Shanghai has resulted in favour of the former. Advices from Japan state that a general dis bandment of the Japanese troops has been ordered. Satisfactory terms have been concluded with Cho6u. The arrangements for opening Osaka are pro gressing. The opening of Yeddo is doubtful. The Japanese have established a line of steamers between Yokohama and Osaka. FRANCE. BOURSE, Dec. 24, Three o'clock.—The market closed as follows : 4f per Cent. End of month — 3 per Cent End of month 6B 65 Credit Mobilier End of month l6B 75 Credit Foncier 1368 75 End of month 1361 25 RAILWAY Bank Shares 3lOO Its. Fan Loan End of month 45 20 Mexican Loan 13 75 Do. Bonds Spanish Threes Home Debt 35 Deferred — Account. Orleans . ... 856 f Northern 11721 Lyons and Mediterranean Southern.... 553k Western -1 Eastern . • 534 Sardinian Austrian sos} Lombard 350 North of Spain 62+ Saragossa Roman 5O THE INCOME TAX. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sin,—The increased amount of Id. in the pound Income-Tax on allowance for the Abyssinian war emboldens me to address you once more on this most unjust (as levied at present) and iniquitous tax, but which said tax is fully capable of being made the fairest and most equitable of all modes of taxation. To expect any change in its assessment or revision of direct v. indirect taxation generally during the present Parliament would be idle and childish. But I trust the whole system of taxation will be one among the many tasks of our new Reformed Par liament. Perhaps it may not be amiss just to re view the history of the tax from the time of its first imposition, just this time 69 years ago, by the im mortal Billy Pitt. He first proposed it on the 3d of December, 1798, curiously enough almost the very same month and day of the month that our present Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed the increase of the tax this year. But mark the differ ence of the two periods. In 1798 we were engaged in about the most gigantic war that England, or even the world, had ever seen. To have attempted to make any difference between dependent and pre carious incomes and independent incomes would have been utterly impossible, and out of the ques tion at such a time as the close of the last century, when we were at war with the greater part of the continent of Europe, with Consols at 47k, a famine in the land, a rebellion in Ireland, a mutiny at the Nore, and a host of other maladies and grievances whose name is legion, cum nzultis aliis qua; nunc prescril'ere longum est. Then William Pitt never for one moment contemplated the con tinuance of the tax after war should have ceased. That was a heavy impost, such as the present generation living in these days of profound and piping peace have but a mere abstract idea of. its absolute necessity, however, alone reconciled the people of England to the imposition of this burden, which our ancestors of 70 years back bore not only with patience but with enthusiasm. I speak for myself, and I have no doubt Ido for you and many others of the genuine true Liberal (but not Whig Melbourne-Russell Bedchamber) school,when I say that that old long French and Eu ropean war, albeit most unjust, uncalled for, and un necessary in its origin, nevertheless brought out the finest passions and spirit of the English nation, and as it was remarked many years ago, at the end of the last century, and the beginning of this. "We were a nation" such as the mean mind of Lord Rus sell, and many other of the soi-disant Liberals, who governed the country so beautifully for o many years, can have no more idea of than the dirt they kick and trample on with their toes in the streets, in asmuch as when we were once engaged in the war nothing remained but to go on with it in the most courageous and magnanimous manner possible ; and this the people of England, to their praise be it spoken, did. Yes, to their praise be it spoken, as long as we continue a nation. In many respects, with all the privations we had to endure, England n ever saw such days as these. But to return to the how you, how such a distinction may be made with advantage on both sides, as it is by no means at all clear to my mind that people of permanent incomes really derive any advantage from not paying, as they ought to do, more than those poor unfortunate individuals, who merely eat their bread and butter from day to day, by means of the whimsand caprices of poor frail, weak humanity. This is undoubtedly a gross abuse, which will, I trust, be one of the first efforts of our new reformed Parliament to see rectified. At any rate, our beau tiful soi-disant Liberals have never attempted to make any change. The only time any change was ever seriously attempted was by our present Go vernment—the first time Lord Derby was Premier, and just before the accession of the late Lord Aber deen to office, on the resignation of Lord Derby, when our present Chancellor of the Exchequer pro posed that precarious and uncertain incomes should pay one-fourth less than those derived from inde pendent sources. The Whigs comme a l'ordinaire blackballed this, and when they became possessed of the sweets of office, proposed that the income tax should gradually die out in 1860, like a dis solving view, on the falling in of the long annui ties ; but no sooner does 1860 arrive than they make the income-tax more firm and secure than ever, following the precedent of 1806. Their doings with regard to the income tax, and indeed I might add with regard to many other things, come round like the solar and lunar cycles. I trust it is, how ever, with them as it was said by a morning Minis terial print in the days of the first Melbourne Government, I mean that Administration which succeeded the Government of the late Earl Grey, the Father of Reform, when it was thought the Tories were banished for many a long year to the Opposition. The aforesaid journal concluded its article with "a long and a hearty farewell to these officious curs yelping at our heels."—l remain, Sir, your faithful servant, A LOVER AND OBSERVER OF HISTORICAL DATES AND FACTS. Dec. 13, 1867. THE MURDER AT SHADIVI'LL. Yesterday afternoon Mr. Humphreys, coroner of Middlesex, opened an inquiry at the Crown Tavern, High-street, Shadwell, respecting the deaths of Francis Andrew Brown, aged 21 years, and Elizabeth Sophia Pickford, aged 34 years, whose bodies were found in the waters of the London Ducks on Sunday morning. It will be remembered that a Mr. Wag - staff, on coming up Gravel lane , Shadwell, a little after one o'clock on Sunday morning, heard a man shouting for help. immeTately afterwards he heard a splash in the water. Going on the bridge he saw two Irish labourers there looking at the man in the water. There was no way of reaching the drowning man. Mr. Wagstaff came to the conclusion that the men had thrown the drowning man over the parapet of the bridge, and he asked them " Who threw him overboard ?" The men answered to the effect that he had done so him self, and the result was that, the police coming up, all three were taken to the station-house, and the two labourers, Jeremiah Duggan and Timothy Donovan, were charged with the wilful murder of the deceased. They were taken before the magistrate on the charge, and the circum stances being full of suspicion against them, they were remanded for a week, and are now in prison under the charge. At the inquest, however, a chance question put to a witness, Catherine Laye, brought out the fact that the deceased man had threatened to commit suicide ; other witnesses were sent for, and the whole complexion of the case was changed. It was in searching for the body of the young man Brown that that of Sophia Pickford was discovered. After hearing evidence, the jury returned a verdict in the case of the woman, " That the deceased, Elizabeth Sophia Pickford, was found drowned, but how she became drowned there was no evidence to skew;'' leaving the case of the young man undecided until Duggan and Donovan could be brought before the court under a warrant from the Home Secretary. LOCAL MUSEUMS IN INDIA—The demand for local museums of industry and fine arts which is now so active throughout Europe has extended to India. The Gcvernor-General has appointed a commission to report on the conservation of the ancient architecture of India, and the best means of obtaining casts of the finest sam ples. The Lieutenant-Governor of the North-Western Provinces has also organised a committee of action for his district, and has laid down the principle that a museum should be established at the headquarters of each revenue division, and that the chief mus cuss' for the North• Western Provinces should be at the seat of government. Collections of diagrams and drawings illustrating . pro cesses and works on decorative art have been ordered to be sent from England. The main objects of local museums are :defined to be —first, the improvement of manufactures; and, second the preservation of ancient and improvement of modern art. An official memorandurr states that in order to prevent natives from thinking that European designs were desirable as copies for ornamenta tion, it would be necessary to procure many modes of illustration from different parts of India and the East generally, and that " it is not, however, in the modern art manfactures of India that the means can be found to give new life to the native designer. It is in the architec ture of the country that power and more original ideas car be formed." The Countess (Maria) of Harrington is suffering from a very severe attack of bronchitis, and is still in a very precarious condition. Dr. Cross, of New-street, Spring-gardens, has been in attendance on the countess since WedneSday last, on which day her ladyship was taken ill. The Countess of Mountcharles has constantly waited on her invalid mother during her serious illness. SEIZURE OF GUNPOWDER AT SUNDERLAND.—A large seizure of gunpowder was made at Sunderland on Monday by inspector Elliott and Detective Milne, of the Sunderland police force. On Sunday night the officers re ceived information that an Irishman named Joseph Spear, resiling at Cumberland-terrace, had a qitantity of gun powder stored about his premises. Spear works at Messrs. Scott and Horn's bottle works, and the officers fell in with him on Monday morning as he was going to his work. Spear at first denied that he had any gunpow der in his possession. But upon the officers telling, him that they bad a warrant to search his house he took them to a yard adjoining his own, where they found 4001 b con tained in three large bags in a coal-house. Spear said that he had the gunpowder for blasting purposes. The magistrates ordered it to be destroyed, and it was taken out to sea in a eoble, and the bags were emptied into the water. THE LATE EXPLOSION IN NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE —On Monday afternoon the town of Newcastle presented a singularly gloomy appearance. Nearly all the shops and places of business were either wholly or partially closed the bells of the parish churches tolled muffled peals, and between 1 and 2 o'clock a funeral procession fully a mile long followed the remains of the late Sheriff, Mr. John Mawson, killed by the explosion a week ago, to Jesmond Cemetery, where they were interred by Archdeacon Prest. Newcastle has enjoyed municipal privileges over 400 years, and Mr. Mawson is the first sheriff who has died during his term of office. It seems that according to the Munici pal Act the Town Council cannot elect a successor until the 9th of November, 1868, and the Under-Sheriff will have to perform the duties of the office in the meantime. THE BOILER EXPLOSION AT MANCHESTER.—In our report of the boiler explosion at the dyeworks of Messrs. Chapman and Holland, Manchester, forwarded on Monday evening, it was stated that at the time the report was despatched the bodies of three persons killed and five injured had been recovered from the ruins. Subsequently three other dead bodies were dis covered, making the total number of killed by this fatality six. A boy six years old, named Arthur Holland, son of ono of the partners, was among the killed. He had come home from school for the Christmas holidays the day before, and had gone upon the premises to play. Half his head was crushed away, and the poor little follow's body was much disfigured. Twenty-six of the workmen were fortunately away from the premises when the explosion occurred, or the loss of life might have been much greater. SOUTII KENSINGTON MUSEUM.—A portion of the objects obtained from Paris, either by loan or by purchase, will be exhibited during the Christmas holydays. Among the loans may be specified the extraordinary crystals lent by his Majesty the Emperor of Austria, and the goldsmith work of the fourth century lent by the - Roumanian Go vernment. Among the purchases are the cabinet by Four diuiois, which was the capo d'opera of furniture ; the beau tiful sphiette made at Milan in 1577, and Castellani's col lection of peasant jewellery. SAVINGS-BANKS.—The accounts of the old trustee savings-banks on the eastern side of the kingdom show a gradual decline in the deposits. At Lynn, in the year end ing Nov. 20, 1867, the sums received from depositors in money were £9,532 ; and the sums actually paid to deposi tors in money, including interest, within the year were £13,483. The total balance due to depositors Nov. 20, 1867, was £69,428, as compared with £71,995. Nov. 20, 1866. The sums received from depositors at the Cam bridge Savings-bank during the year ending November 20, 1867, amounted to £22,104, while the sums paid to de positors, including interest, amounted in the same period to £26,210. The balance duo to depositors November 20, 1867, was £186,874, while the balance due November 20, 1860 was £188,705. ( - . 5 r , &Ur& ttr ~' i^ ~~~ Y._ ..._ .~. . u : ,~. HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Dec. 24. The Queen walked and drove in the ground s yesterday afternoon, accompanied by P r incess Louise; and her M a j es ty wen t ou t thi s morning/ accompanied by P r inc e ss Ch r i s tia n . Prince and Princess Ch r i s ti an an d P r i n cess gel' riette of Schleswig-holstein, attended by LadY Susan Melville and Li e ut e na n t-C o l one l G. Gordon,arrived at Osborne yesterday, from DraYc c)t ' where they have been the guests of Earl and Countess Cowley. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess Christian and the Princess ilenriette were the guests of the Earl and Countess Cowloy at Draycot, Wilts, from Thursday last till Monday. There were invited by th° Earl and Countess Cowley to meet the Prince and Princess the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Shrews" bury and Ladies Talbot (two), Viscount and Viscountes.4 Sydney. The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and family have arrived at Paris from London, on their way to the south of France. The Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Emlyn have passed through Paris on their way to Egypt. Count and Countess G. de. Wezele have arrived in Eaton-squaro from the Continent. Lord and Lady George Quin have arrived on 3 visit to Sir John and Lady Givondoline Ramsde r n, a t Byrom, South Milford. Lord Wallscourt has retired from the army. UNIVERSITY IIVTELLIGE.VCE. OXFORD, DEC. 24. The Open Fellowship at Merton College has been awarded to Mr, W. Wallace, 8.A., of BOliol Col lege ; the Clerical Fellowships to Mr. B. C. I' Dear, 8.A., of St. John's College, and Mr. B. fi"' Wilson, M.A., of Merton College ; and the 'Natural Science Fellowship to Mr. T. H. G. Wyndhate, 8.A., of Oriel College. Mr. Wallace and Mr. Po t obtained first classes in Classics both at Moderations and in the Final Schools ; Mr. Wilson obtained a second class in the Final Classical School ; and M r. Wyndham a first class in the Natural Science School. On Saturday, the 22d of February, and not on the day previously advertised, there will be au elee tion in Exeter College to five scholarships, one a the value of £lOO per annum, two of the value of £BO, and two of the value of £6O, tenable for fiv e years. Candidates must be under 20 years of age , and if born in the diocese of Exeter, or educated 1 ° any school therein for the last three yea rs ! : have a prior claim to the two latter scholarships , in the judgment of the electors they are qualified to be scholars of the College. On the same d a y there will be an election to two Exhibitions, on e open, the other in default of the kin of the Rev; T. how, limited in the first instance to the sons e' clergymen living in either the county of Devon o r Somerset, or, in failure of such candidates of sta . ' cient merit, to the sons of clergymen, without re gard to residence or place of birth. Another Exhi bition may be filled up at the same time. Candidates are requested to call on the Rector on Monday, the 17th of February, before 9 p.m., and if desirous °f also competing for the Exhibitions they must go proof beforehand that they are in need of assistance at the University. WRECKS IN 1866. A return recently issued by the Board of Tra d° records 1,860 wrecks and casualties as having ° e ; curred in 1866 on and near the coasts of the Uni te ' Kingdom. The number reported in 1865 vas 1,656. The number for 1866 was not only abov e the corrected average of the last ten years, but als ° above the average of the preceding five year This was partly attributable to an increase in tile d number of vessels frequenting the coasts, a nd it was also to be noted that the numbers for any one year will be increased or diminished according to the p re; valence or absence of gales. In 1866 the gales of January, February, and March and October, Novell ber, and December gave 793 wrecks, &c. Of 0 1 number 279 occurred in January. The o°3 serious disasters occurred on the 11th of January Of the shipping in Torbay on that day 6 ' vessels were either totally lost or serions l i damaged. The number of ships lost or damag ed in 1866 was 2,289, and was in excess of the 0 33. ; ber of wrecks and casualties (1,860), bec ause in cases of collision two or more ships were invo lved in one casualty. Out of 1,860 casualties 95 3 ee curred on the east coast, 274 on the south c oast ' 412 on the west coast, and 144 on the Irish eoaota; but while the greatest number of wrecks hapPel le s on the east coast of England, the greatest 10° of life occurred in the Irish Sea. Westerly gales were far more fatal than easterly gales, the most fatal, however, being from south west. The number of lives lost in the Irish S' e , 3 o during the last eight years was m o r e than don b ' i the number lost on any other part of the coasts. the 2,289 vessels lost or damaged in 1866, 86 We r: rigged as ships, 150 were steamships, 631 schoone;/' 426 brigs, 249 barks, 257 brigantines, and lu a d smacks, &c. Nearly half the vessels that suffered from wreck or casualty last year was represe nte ; by the unseaworthy, overladen, or ill - f ouil() vessels of the collier class, chiefly emploYe d l A jj the coasting trade. The state of rottenness 3 of want of repair of some of the ships ah e j le 20 years old often called for remark, and a t 00 age of 25 to 30 a ship was sometimes . ag rotten that it fell to pieces immediately on tou ch the ground, without giving the crew the slig hted warning ; but disasters to comparatively new s h , bore a very high proportion to the whole nutah e l Thus, taking thNght years ended 186 G, of 111 65 wrecks, &c., in which the ages of the 'fel were stated, 1,135 happened to nearly new si l t; and 1,981 to ships from three to seven Y e a! , of age. Then there were wrecks and ea se p a ties to 2,506 ships from seven to 14 years old, tted to 4,180 from 15 to 30 years old. Then fol le b sc os o 1,528 old ships from 30 to 50 years old. O f 60 more than half a century old 283 were betweellso, and 60, 127 from GO to 70, 61 from 70 t° , t ha and 31 aged 80 years and upwards. O f ere total number of wrecks, &c., in 1866, 422 referred to collisions, of which 121 occu rral, s , the daytime, and 301 at night. Of the re —rual 4oo ll ing 1,438 casualties, 562 resulted in t he w r tial loss of the vessels, and 876 resulted in P o o damage. Of the vessels totally lost no les s , fee to 125 were lost through carelessness, 74 from ue Qf in ship, &c., and 276 from stress of weather' a ll the vessels partially damaged 119 suffered f tiire carelessness, 44 from defects in ships, &e. , allci from stress of weather. As regards the loss Der the returns show that the total number oiVited sons lost on and near the coasts of th e u roi o Kingdom last year; in 199 ships, was 8 96 ' o eo was iu excess of the number lost in any year? e SO in 1859, when, owing to the loss of the b ee Charter, the number reached 1,647. T he e r;c i f number of 324 lives was lost in vessels that foundoeo 127 were lost through collisions, and 893 ia / 4, 90 stranded or cast ashore. On the other hand!„....vis,t lives were saved from wrecks during the y e ` ir 353 by lifeboats, 516 by rocket and inor t3l : l l . l d an d ratus, lines, &c., 439 by luggers and coatgil`t.,3,.fiO other boats, 973 by ships and steamboats, a n d v ia by ships' own boats. , For the purpos e of, ‘6,366 ou life from shipwreck there were at the en d of If("1.001,e,D the coasts of the United Kingdom 265 s ets e ‘ v a rP and mortar apparatus, 2,828 of Captai 00 ° cork lifejackets, and2o7lifeboats. Besides tiltlooW there were also 102 volunteer life brigades 33 10 1 ' ile panies. In addition to pecuniary rewards t toe 0 A i lowing presentations were made by th e o°ve rn Def t during the year 1866 for saving life :—On pr o 0 % medal, one gold medal, five silver medals, °llelsete°: medal, 12 gold watches, seven gold chrolluo, 23 telescopes,four binocular glasses, 20 one quadrant. P._.,,r_.__.. ,~ iYC O e ?;QMli' This bein Exchange w BRITI GOVERN IM * Per ()enc. Cc Do. A.ceoun per Cent. Itc NO W 3 per Ce Now 21 per C , Do. 5 per C Annuities' 30 Do. for 303 Do (lied So tclicquer Bi LO .ortnlc of Engl' Do. Accoun INDIAN C Indian stock, Do. Accoui Do. 5 per C Do. 4 per C Do. Cortific Do. Enface , Do. 5 per C Do. 5,1 3 - per Do. 5 per C Do. Do Deb., F, Do. Bonds, Do, under FORE Argentine Re Austrian Bon Brazilian 5 pi Do. per 156. D. 5 per Do Aceoun Do. £lOO I Buenos Ay - a Do 2 per C Cuba, 6 per Caiiian 6 per Do. 41 per (Jo. 6 per I Do., 18 Do., 7 per Scrip • inbia,n, Danish 3 p)] knubian Pr Do 8 per C Lluador Ne , egyptiap, 1)(7) . S o D Do. £IOG Do. £5lO Do. 4:100 Govt±run creek, 5 per Do. Accot .no. Coup( Do. Aceot CT t Lteltlala is It , :ian 5 pe• Do, Accut Do. I .l. , ixicar. 3 r Ditto for Do fl per Romoviden; Moorish Now Grana( Do 3 por Do. Defer Do Laad Peruvian 5 Do Acco Do 41 per Do 41 per Do Accoi P)rttiguese Russian. 5 p Do 41 per Do 41 pei Do 3 per Do 5 per Do. Angie Do. - Do., 1866 Do. Sardinian, Spanish 3 Do Accol Do New Do Amu Do Passi Do Accb; Do Corn. Do Acco Turkish 6 Do Acco; Do 6 per Do Acco Do £lOO Do 6 per Do Aeon Do £lOO Do 5 per DJ Acco Do 6 per Da }per Venezuela, Acco Do 6 per Do 6 per A.nstrlan z 1 3elgian, Dutch 24i r Do. 4 Pc] French Re It%Han 5 p Do. Ace, Consols, N Do. Aco MANCI Market h prices a there ha have fou] take lows markets below cu to their resulted. languid. to their 4 Prices NVI decline c Week in not heel ludia sh Weft--11 tions hl much d generall than usi The In transpir in thes good d offers. Messrs. market with a t tur era a sure tc Very lit some e: which I CAR] district cipally realised some of previou plies se: Freight there is offering rates tc 40s. ; French Uars e i Princip in. F re ; rat es t th ere A. rileri( about i s COIll Inprol br and 1 1L) 3rTri, 61 0 wl y LEE this 1 e nStlit