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

SPIRIT OP-PIE LIC lOTTRNALS. The advice of Mr. Wainer, M.P., to the Midland direc tors, to postpone what . can be postponed, and to abandon what can be abandoned, is, as the Times thinks, probably * the best that could he given: l The view taken of the future is, perhaprs t ; not too sanguine ; and the actual culpability of the directors on the ?core of the present difficulty must be measured by more exact' estimates of the several under takings than are yet before us. But we cannot omit to notice one or two points in our correspondent's letter which have a most pertinent bearing upon the questions at the bottom of all railway finance. Mr. Baines tells us that he has for years been engaged indirectly in the audit of the com pany's accounts, and that he invariably inquired as strictly as possible, first, whether the accounts were accurate : and next, whether the charges of the year were duly apportioned between capital and revenue. Our readers know by this time what that division really means. Charging to revenue means paying expenses out of re ceipts ; charging to capital means paying them out of borrowed money. Now, it is quite evident that Mr. Baines, in common, we fancy, with all railway officials — indeed, with the whole railway world—thinks that some expenses ought properly and fairly to be met, not by payment out of pocket, but by running into debt, and we should like to know how he would define lor limit the outgoings to be taus conveniently defrayed. We venture to state once more that there is only one fund out of which any railway expenses can possibly be paid, and that is the revenue of the line. What ever is not carried to revenue is simply carried to the revenue of after years, just as this very £5,000,000, if it were really raised, would, though it is termed " capital " at the minute, be constituted by £500,000 taken yearly out of future revenue for ever. What kind of ex penditure is it which it is justifiable to defray in such a manner? Is it expenditure on what Mr. Baines calls " defence of territory?" But defence of territory only means defence of traffic ; defence of traffic only means pro tection of revenue ; and what is the use of protecting revenue at the cost of a mortgage on revenue itself, only too likely to exceed the saving effected ? To ensure the prosperity of a line, revenue ought to be kept up and capital to be kept down, whereas no railway board or rail way proprietary ever seems to have given a thought to anything but revenue. All their cares, hopes, and anxie ties were concentrated on that end of the acccount, and for this one-sided and purblind policy they are now suf fering. The Post argues that in keeping up a great standing army the Emperor of the French cannot help himself, with a saturnine Bismarck scowling at him from the other side of a frontier which a lame man could hop over. Prussia, which has been for the last hundred years one of the most powerful military States in the world, has lately waxed so great as to inspire well-founded alarm among her neighbours. She has eaten up and swallowed most of them. She is looking at the rest with hungry eyes, and a constant smacking of the lips which must make them ex tremely uncomfortable ; and she is governed by a Prince and a Premier who have shewn that they can make war at pleasure, and wholly irrespective of the state of public opinion in Europe. Prussia has just annihilated Austrian power so completely that she might have occupied Vienna as she did Frankfort, and have put an end to the rule of the Hapsburgs altogether had she been so minded. In the case of Denmark, Prussia acted in utter contempt of all the press and opinion of the civilised world. Morece-er, when Prussia was a far lesser Power than she now is, she defied successfully the allied forces of France, Russia, Austria, and Sweden all together. She has proved in . twenty great pitched battles, at least, the extraordinary discipline and stubborn courage of those immense armies which she collects from every class of her population, and holds in constant readiness to hurl against an enemy. According to the Daily News, the subscription for the sufferers by the Clerkenwell explosion is not proceeling exactly as could be desired. The public is not only ready but eager to come forward and bear its share of their burden, but something has hindered it. There has been from the first a certain misconception about the extent of the aid which was being given and as to the amount that was still required, and perhaps the too local coast tion of the committee has somewhat contributed to this uncer tainty. One thing should be distinctly understood : the Government remits the duty of providing for the Clerken well sufferers to the public. The wise and prompt action of Mr. Disraeli on the morrow of the disaster has evi dently misled some persons to believe that the Govern ment has assumed a further obligation ; but this is not the case. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has held out no pros.pest whatever of further assistance from the Govern ment, its intervention in the first instance having been intended to meet those urgent wants which could not wait to 1 c until the public could come to their aid. Mr. Disraeli advised that the Relief Committee should prepare a statement of all the legitimate claims on their consideration, and then appeal to the national sympathy. He also recomnsended that a public meeting should be held out of Clerkenwell, and expressed his belief that if these m: • eres n-ere adopted they would elicit a warm and instant response. A meeting should be called at once, either in the City or at the West-end, if not in both, and everything should be done to impress a national character on the movement. The public perfectly understand that, as the Rev. R. Maguire somewhat theologically expressed it, this is a case of vicarious suffering, and that the blow which struck the poor of Corporation-row was aimed at England herself. The Saturday Review takes it for granted that no Libe ral Ministry in the future will be complete without Mr. Bright on the Treasury Bench. The hon. member will then discover how very difficult a thing it is to deal with Ireland. With very much of what he says about Ireland (continues our contemporary) we agree, but then so does every one agree except the wildest Orangeman. We are quite sick of these retrospects of the past conceived from the point of view of a . violent partisan, or we might pause to take objection to what Mr. Bright calls the persistent misgovernment of Ireland by the Tories. Considering that the Whigs have had something approaching to thirty years of office since the Reform Bill, why on earth are the Tories to be exclusively blamed for the sad state of the country ? But Ireland is so serious a subject that all these bandyings of party reproaches ought to be laid entirely aside now when we try to deal with it. But, then, what is to be done with Ireland? Mr. Bright, following Mr. Gladstone, says that we ought not to delay doing justice to Ireland because of the - Fenian conspiracy ; we ought not to let pique and indignation prevent us from doing what is right. Let us admit this. Mr. Bright further says that the consequences of Irish disaffection are most grave, and that the present state. of Ireland is full of dan ger to England,. greater than any she has passed through for many years. Let us admit this also. Lastly, Mr. Bright says that, to meet a great danger, we must use great and bold remedies, and that a statesman who hopes to deal with Ireland properly must be prepared to make startling and sweeping changes. Let us, for argument's sake, admits this also. We are prepared to come to the examination of Irish affairs, ready for anything in the whole world as long as it can be shewn to be just, prac ticable, and permanently advantageous. But, in the first place, we have to remark that there is a danger in the very language which men like Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Bright use about Ireland. It is dangerous that the Irish should be almost justified in their disaffection, made to think their case quite exceptional, and be told that they can never be made happy and prosperous, and never have simple justice done them, unless something new, startling, and unheard-of is devised for their benefit. This language can only be justified on one hypothesis, that those who use it have really got definite practical measures which they are prepared to propose. If they have—and it ought to be the aim of a statesman to have such measures at the present crisis—they are quite right to prepare the way for them ; but, if not, they are only using big words at a time when big words are likely to do more than their usual amount of harm. In the next place, it may be said that there is nothing to be more dreaded for Ireland than that every politician should think there is some great secret for managing it, which if he can but guess before anybody else, he will deserve to he crowned with laurels, and have a gold statue erected to him. One of the crazes about Ireland that is most noxious is, that there is in the abyss of things some great Carlyle an. Cromwell:an remedy for all its evils, which any one person who gets up a little Irish hi Cory or makes a month's tour in Connaught is as likely to find out as another. This is a sort of nonsense which is all very well in its place, but in real politic.) we want men to take up the question of Ireland who proceed in a totally different way : and the time may now be said to he come when it is the duty of men like the two leaders of the Liberal party in the House of Commons to separate theniselves from mere seers of visions and dreamers of dreams, and to state in plain len guage what England, with all the best will in the world, can really do for Ireland. The Spectator deals rather severely with the reports of the committees of the recent Episcopal Confercnco at Lambeth. Anyone can see at a glance who looks over these documents that they form an organic whole, and would, before many years are passed, if practically acted on, create as formidable a schism in our own Church at home as they directly advise in the Church of the colonies. One report recommends the general reorganisation of the diocesan synods, and of the p rov i nc i a l s y no d s over th em . Over these provincial synods, a ga i n — o f w hi c h th e Convo cations of the Provinces of York and Canterbury, but reconstituted so as to admit lay representatives, are the only existing examples—would be a " Congress " oz " Council " of the whole Anglican Communion, of which the recent Lambeth Conference—reconstituted so as to admit lay and clerical representatives "as consultees and advisers," but not apparently with votes—would be the best example,. This " Congress" or " thrytigh not credited with authority to lay down CUM@ of dOettine of universal obligation, would yet ► as. we hay° down, be empowered to give definitions of doctrine whit& ♦Elie Colonial court of doctrinal appeal would be gencraiiy ballad to respect and abide by. Now, as the ArohlAshop tf Canterbury would be president of this Congress or Connell, and also president of the Colonial Court of Appeal, and as in both cases he would act in conjunction with brother bishops of his own Church, it is simply impossible that the doctrines to be laid down by this highest Council or Con gress of the Anglican Communion, and to be binding (in most cases) on tlie doctrinal tribunal of appeal, should not gain a great prestige in the national Church itself, and become very soon practical tests of orthodoxy, the rejec tion of which would render any English clergyman suspected by his brethren, and lay him open to all sorts of disagreeable social disabilities and penalties. Indeed, to gain this social prestige at home for the doctrinal decisions of the proposed Court of Appeal, and of the proposed General Council of the Anglican Communion, is obviously the chief object and intention of the whole conspiracy. That it would be successful to the extent of introducing a great schism into our Church in the colonies, and a new source of bitter division and strife into our Church at home, we do not doubt at all. Once make it a slur on a clergyman's character that he claims the liberty conceded him by our Ecclesiastical Courts, and sets at naught the decisions of the new spiritual bodies proposed in these ambitious sketches, and you will have such a series of conflicts in the Church, such a mass of heartburnings, such tests proposed by rectors to curates, and by the proprietors of advowsons to the incumbents of their choice, as it will be utterly impossible for our Church to bear. At present it is a Church of liberty within fixed legal limits. But it is quite possible, we admit, for cle rical parties to make combinations stronger than the law ; and the proposed scheme will render it simply inevitable that such parties should be formed. A powerful schis matic Church in the colonies will stimulate the High Church and Evangelical parties at home to compete with it in boastful independence of the secular tribunals. And this is indeed exactly the end for which the leaders of the recent Congress at Lambeth are scheming. We think it very likely that they will succeed. We aro sure that their success means schism on a most formidable scale. We believe that it means also the pulverisation of the Church of England—at present catholic, liberal, and great into small, sectarian, and narrow-minded bodies, which will wield little influence, and deserve less. WILLS AND BEQUESTS. The will of Admiral the Right Hon. Charles Abbot, Lord Colchester, P.C., D.C.L., of Berkeley-square, and Kid brooke, Surrey, was proved in her Majesty's Court of Pro bate, on the 6th inst., by the Right Hon. George Augus tus Frederick Charles, Earl of Sheffield, and the testator's brother-in-law, the Hon. Henry Spencer Law, the joint acting executors. The personalty was sworn under £14.000. The will is dated August 20, 1547, and a codo cil October 15, 1855, and his lordship died October 13, 1867, at the age of 69. With the exception of a few lega cies to some of his nearest relatives and to his executors, he has left his real estate and the, residue of his personal property to his only son, Reginald Charles Edward Abbot, the present Baron Colchester.—The will of James Bogue Lobb, Esq., of Wray Park, near Reigate, Surrey, and Win. chain, near Northwich, Chester, was proved in London, on the 7th instant, by Harriett Lobb, his relict ; James Fenn Clark, surgeon, his nephew, of Leamington ; and the Rev. Joseph Finch Fenn, M.A., of Cheltenham, the executors. The personalty was sworn under £30,000. The will bears date November 16, 1866 ; and the testator died November 11, 1867, aged 74. Ile leaves all his furniture at Reigate and Wincham to his wife, and bequeaths to her for her life all other his pro perty, with power of disposition over certain portions thereof ; and after her decease he divides a considerable portion amongst his and her relations. There are imme diate and reversionary legacies to his executors, whom he also appoints his residuary legatees.—The will of John Inderwick, of Princes-street, Leicester-square, merchant, and of Victoria-grove, Kensington, was proved in the London court on the 10th instant, by Miss Louisa Hannah Inderwick, his daughter ; George Inderwick, his son; and David John Taylor. The personalty was sworn under £lOO,OOO. He has left a legacy of £5O, free of duty, to the Gerrard-street Dispensary, and divides his numerous freehold and leasehold estates amongst his sons and daughters, appointing them his residuary legatees. The will is dated April 17, 1867, and the testator died on November 15, aged 82. The late Mrs. Mary Robertson, of Bishop's • Down Grove, near Tunbridge Wells, whose will was proved, in the principal registry, under £50,000 personalty, has left a legacy of £lOO to each of the following institutions, viz. Tunbridge Wells Infirmary, Asylum for Idiots, Deaf and Dumb Asylum, School for Indigent Blind, Goverxesses' Benevolent Institution, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Clergy Orphan Asylum, Infant Orphan Asylum, and King's College Hospital.—The wills of the undermentioned were recently proved—namely, Sir Richard Charles Kirby, C. 8., under £5,000 personalty; Lady Ashworth, £3,000 ; Lady Nickle, £B,OOO ; Lady Vane, £4,000 ; John Nicholls, Esq., of Champion Hill, Surrey, ,L 250,000 ; Thomas Webb Gilbert, Esq., £35,000 ; John Armitage, Esq., £35,000 ; William Betts, Esq., £30,000 ; Robert Pegg, Esq., £35,000, who, upon the death of his wife, leaves to the General Baptist Foreign Mis sionary Society, £l,OOO ; Bible Society, £5OO ; and the Derby Infirmary, £soo.—lllustrated London News. COMMERCIAL MYELLERS' SCHOOLS. The anniversary festival of this institution, founded at Pinner in 1845, for the education and maintenance of the orphan and necessitous children of commercial travellers, was held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, under the presidency of Mr. Goschen, M.P., who was supported on the occasion by Mr. Thomas,Chambers,FM. P. , Mr. Sheriff M`Arthur, Messrs. George Moore, R. N. Fowler, Walford Greatorex, &c. Great success has attended the operations of this excellent charity, by which, since its original esta blishment, hundreds of destitute children have been care fully trained, and afterwards assisted in obtaining suitable positions in life. The schools, which are in a very efficient state, now contain nearly 200 boys and girls ; and, in order to meet the urgent and increasing claims for admission, the board of management have determined on enlarging their premi,es so as to provide accommodation for another hundred scholars. Two new wings are in pro cess of construction, and it is expected that they will be completed early next year. This extension of the institu tion will involve an outlay of at least MO6O, which has to be defrayed by voluntary subscription ; and the dinner last night was intended as well to promote the raising of this fund as to celebrate the original foundation of the schools. In prefacing "The Army, Navy, and Volunteer s ," the right hon. chairman avowed his doubts whether the utilitarian tendencies of the age would ever enable them to erase those services from their list of toasts. He also maintained that City men were not less sensitive than any other class of the community as to what was due to the national defence and the national honour, contending that, even upon the lowest ground of worldly prudence, there was no system of insurance for the commerce of this country against the dangers which European events might bring in their train, which could he so efficacious, and at the same time so economical, as the keeping up of an efficient army and navy. He also expressed a hope that our soldiers now in Abyssinia were spending as as far as might be " a merry Christmas." (Cheers.) In responding for " The health of the House of Commons," Mr. Thomas Chambers observed that in that great assembly there existed among all parties a single and earnest desire to do what was right and just, not only for all classes of the community, but for all parts of the empire. He ventured, moreover, to say that no change in the laws of this empire was to be effected by acts of lawlessness and violence. The man who, however high his position, or however commanding his eloquence, said that Parlia ment would yield not to the legitimate influence of reason and argument, but to tumult and menace proceeding from foreign desperadoes and conspirators, did not truly repre sent English feeling. (Cheers.) The only effect which displays of physical force could have on the course of legis lation was to make Parliament and the nation pause until the law as it existed was vindicated, after which they might calmly and tranquilly consider whether any alteration, were required by the altered circumstances of the coun try. (Hear, hear.) Mr. George Moore, treasurer, briefly sketched the origin and progress of the charity, remarking that independently of its direct advantages t, the scholars, it had worked a great moral reform in ti commercial-room." Still, unfortunately, only one-eighth of the entire body of gentlemen of the road of Englam! duly appreciat-d its benefits by sulucribing to its fund,:. The education given in these schools was a sound scrip tural one, and its good effects might be judged of by the fact that out of the whole 383 children who had passed through the institution, only one or twii had subsequently gone astray. He likewise mentioned that this year four of the pupils went up for the Oxford and Cambridge ex aminations, all of whom were successful. Various other complimentary toasts followed, and before the proceeding, terminated the receipt of subscriptions and donations to the amount of some £1,700 was announced. ATROCIOUS GRIME.—On Wednesday morning a thatched coach-house, belonging to the Rev. Mr. Saudes, of Kilcully, County Cork, an inoffensive and open-handed gentleman, was set on fire by an incendiary and burnt to the ground. It contained two carriages, a quantity of straw, and some coal, which were destroyed. About one o'clock in the morning he received notice of the fire by means of a stone thrown through his bedroom window, THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 28, 1867. CONGRESS. SENATE. In the Senate on the 9th inst., Mr. Chandler, of Michigan, called up his resolution ,4 to recognise the belligerent rights of Abyssinia," and supported it by a long speech. Mr. Chandler said his resolution only differed from the British proclamation of neu trality in the substitution of names. It was de signed to reciprocate the courtesy of the British Government in 1861. This bad been called a good joke. It was the furthest possible remove from a joke. If it was such it was never equalled before ; but for it the rebellion would have been put down in six months, and two hundred thousand lives and two thousand millions of dollars would have been saved. These rebels would have been in the same situation as was the devil when he tempted our Saviour, and offered him the kingdoms of the earth ; neither of them had anything to give. Everything the rebels had belonged to the United States. A good feeling towards the mother country had existed there before time. What justification was there, then, for that proclamation? Over 8,000 ships, too, had been lost by that recognition. He called attention to the similarity of the condition of the lately rebellious States and Abyssinia. In 1862 he had claimed that every dollar lost to this nation by this act should be either paid or retaliated for. In 1864 he had offered a resolution of similar import, and the United States had then a fleet that could have maintained that policy. In 1865 he had offered a resolution of non , intercourse, and in 1866 a resolution making neutrality laws similar to those of Great Britain. Had Great Britain acknowledged the Alabama claims of the United States he would have been silent, but she had thrown them out of court. That proclamation of neutrality had necessitated a 10 per cent. war risk on vessels. Great Britain could not restore the lives lost by it, but she could refund every dollar. Those claims were a first lien on every foot of land on this continent, and the adjacent islands owned by Great Britain, which would be sufficient remuneration and would satisfy the national honour. He would never again refer to the Alabama claims until this mortgage was foreclosed. If the statesmanship of this procla mation was bad, it was Great Britain's, not theirs. Abyssinia (said the speaker) was a Government thousands of years before Great Britain was a nation. It appeared there had been some love propo sitions between Victoria and the King of Abyssinia. He knew nothing about that ; but the United States should exercise perfect neutrality in such matters. He would let kings and princes decide these matters for themselves. The King of Abys sinia claimed to be, and no doubt was, a descend ant of King Solomon. He believed messengers were on their way from Abyssinia to procure ships and war materials, &c. Ile believed that flag would be recognised, and he would, if a British ship of war chased one of them into a United States port, compel her to remain under the guns of a fort until the Abyssinian vessel had 21 hours' start. Give Great Britain a dose, not as homoeopathic as one of her own medicines. Let the Abyssinians light up old ocean with th 3 burning ships of Great Britain. If the King of Abyssinia enlisted seamen there, he hoped perfect neutrality would be observed. He believed if the resolution p tssed that from 10 to 15 privateers would be on the seas in 100 days, and British chronometers would be as cheap in this mar ket as American chronometers were once in Great Britain. Mr. Anthony, Rhode Island, thought magnani mity the true system of retaliation, although he agreed with Mr. Chandler in condemning the atti tude of England during the civil war : yet the United States had conquered. "LA us," he said, " shame Great Britain by the arts of peace." Ile even held that civilised nations should go the length of proclaiming the immunity of private property at sea. Mr. Reverdy Johnson considered that the adoption of the resolution would be a resignation of the claims of the United States against Great Britain. No greater evil could befall the country than a war with England, a war that would militate against human liberty. Mr. Sumner thought the resolution premature, and as Mr. Chandler was supported only- by Mr. Nye, of Nevada, the subject was dropped without taking a vote. On the 10th Mr. Stunner introduced a resolution, which was adopted, calling for a copy of all correspondence on the Alabama claims. Mr. Morrill spoke at length in favour of his bill providing for the payment in gold, after the 4th Jan., 1869, of all legal tender notes not bearing interest, and authorising the sale of all surplus gold on premiums in the Treasury after January, 1869. A bill was alzo introduced declaring null and void all laws and acts of the Confederate States. tion of the debt of British Columbia, extension of additional aid to the Northern Pacific Railway, and division of the new territory into " territories of the United States." Mr. Banks, chairman of the Comm;ttee on Foreign Affairs, announced that the S3cretary of State is preparing papers to submit to Congress relative to the trial and imprisonment of naturalised American citizens. The Committee of Ways and Means reported the bill on the contraction of the currency on the 7th inst., and General Schenck, the chairman, to stop any debate, moved the previous question, and it was rushed through the House by a vote of 128 to 32. The members in this vote did not divide ac cording to any party lines, Democrats and Repub licans, Freetraders, and Protectionists being found on both sides. The debate on the Finances immediately followed in committee of the whole House, and Mr. Paine, Republican, of Wisconsin, advocated the payment of the 5-20's in gal. Mr. Ross, Democrat, of Illinois, followed him, supporting the Butler plan of repudiation, and Washburne, of Illinois, and Judge Spalding, of Ohio, Republicans, both took occasion to support the position of. Mr. Paine, that the promise of the Government to pay in gold is sacred and should be inviolable. receipts were $1,347,862. The Indian Commis sioner reports favourably on the progress and con dition of affairs in this department during the year, and recommends an increase of the salaries of su perintendents as the best means of getting men fit for the positions. The immediate appointment of superintendents for Colorado, Idaho. Montana, and Dakota is also urged. During the year ending September 30 there were 16,547 applications for patents, and 11,655 were issued. The (mike ba lance in the Treasury to the credit of the patent fund is now $286,607. The whole expenses of the United States courts during the year amounted to $1,695,626. WALKER ON SPECIE RI f MEN TS. The following are the main points of the letter by the Hon. Robert J. Wallur, on tho resumption by the United States of specie payments, as it appeared in the Baltimore Commercial:— The question to be discussed is very comprehensive, and requires a review of our whole system of loans and banks and currency, as well as of revenue and taxation. We have now a depreciated paper currency called legal tenders, amounting, according to the returns on the Ist of November, to three hundred and eighty-seven mil lions, eight hundred and seventy-one thousand, four hundred and seventy-seven dollars ($387,871,477). We had also then in the Treasury one hundred and eleven millions, five hundred and forty thousand, three hundred and seventeen dollars ($111,540,317) in coin, and twenty two millions, four hundred and fifty-eight thousand, eighty dollars in currency, making one hundred and thirty-three millions, nine hundred and ninety-eight thousand, three hundred and thirty-seven dollars ($133,998,397) in all. Deducting this from the above leaves two hundred and fifty-three millions eight hundred and seventy-three thou sand and eighty dollars ($253,873,080). _ _ _ It may beassumeci, then, that a loan of two hundred and fifty millions of dollars in gold, together with the balance now in the Treasury, would redeem all our legal tenders, and restore immediately specie currency. The question is, how or where, and in what manner, and at what rate this loan can be effected ? As a general rule, I am opposed to foreign loans, and made none while Secretary of the Treasury, even to carry on the war with Mexico. But the loans then required were very small as compared with the amount now to be obtained. We did not suspend specie payments, and the condition of the country was very different then. Tho object is to resume specie payments, and should we now borrow $250,000,000 in gold, at home, even if it could be obtained, the rates would be more extravagant, and the loan would so exhaust the available money resources of the country as to cause a great and immediate contraction of the currency, to be followed by a terrible revulsion. No, this must be a foreign loan, so as to bring the gold here to create an expansion, not in paper, but in specie, and to in fuse now life-blood into all the channels of industry. It is contraction Without resumption that is driving the country to the verge of repudiation, and threatening most disastrous consequences to the honourand interests of the nation. No one boforo this has ever threatened to stain the faith and ho- nour of the nation, and but for this system of contraction and taxation, the spectral shade of repudiation would never hive been evoked from the dark abyss of infamy and crime. Contraction is only advocated with a view to ultimate resumption of specie payments. But why contract, and thus depress all our industry, when we can immediately resume without contraction ? If wo are not to resume until the whole paper currency is gradu ally taken in, how many years will it take to accom plish it? What will be the condition of the country in the meantime, whilst the contraction is constantly going on ? And what will it be when all our legal tenders shall have been thus exhausted, together with the national bank currency based upon them ? Why, our condition would be growing worse and worse every day, and at the close we would be left almost without any currency. There aro two kinds of contraction—the one by the gra dual exhaustion of our paper currency, and the other by a domestic loan, draining from the people all the available money of the country. I, then, am for a foreign loan, so as at once to supply the vacuum, to replenish our exhausted resources and resume specio payments, with all its incalculable benefits to our faith, our credit, and our industry. What real objection is there to a foreign loan ? Did Washington and the patriots of '76 object to it when auklin negotiated our foreign loan in Holland ? Did not Mr. Lincoln, concurring with Mr. Chase, warmly ad vocate it, when we obtained the necessary money to re plenish our exhausted Treasury during the late rebellion ? It is certain, on resumption, that this whole loan would b taken by the masses of the people of Germany at par, or higher in gold, for 6 per cent. Bonds. We borrowed $250,000,000 from the Germans in 1863-4 to carry on the war then. And I would open the new foreign loan at Ham burg, Berlin, and Frankfort, aided by C.:mint Bismarck, who is as great a friend of American as he is of German unity. The European bankers have now studied our statistics, and they understand our boundless resources. All we want is to sustain and improve our national credit, to put an end to an irredeemable and depreciated paper currency, and scout indignantly repudiation in all its forms, whether direct or evasive. British Consols, bearing 3 per cent. in terest per annum, as wo have seen, bring 94 in gold, whilst our 6 per Cents. are at 70. Yet, as shown in the third edi tion of my financial letters of 1863-4, the following were the actual statistics from the census of England and Ame rica : Our national wealth in 1850 was 5.7„135,780,228 Our national wealth in 1860 was 1059,616,068 England's national wealth in 1861 31,500,000,000 United States' increase from 1850 to 1860, 126 45-100 per cent. England's increase from 1851 to 1861, 37 per cent. Assuming these ratios, the wealth of the United King dom would increase as follows : 1861 1871 1881 1891 1901 $31,500,000,000 43,155,000,000 50,122,350,000 80.998,619,500 110,966,837,715 And that of the United States as follows: 1869 1870 1880 1890 1900 1901 Thus our wealth in thirty-three years would be more than quadruple that of England. The European bankers, and especially the people of Germany, fully understand these results. They know also the reason of our hitherto wonderful progress—our free institutions, our immense emigration, adding nearly three thousand millions to our wealth from 1850 to 1863, and our magnificent public domain, with our homestead and pre-emption systems. They know also our capacity for resumption, and look with amazement and distrust at our failure to do so. I am opposed to any considerable payments at present in extinguishment of the principal of our public debt. Not because I regard the public debt as a blessing. Far other wise. But when the debt is incurred the great question is, By what system and at what rate of payment will the public interest be best promoted ? To decrease the principal of our public debt by present annual payments of fifty to one hundred millions of dollars is to increase to that extent the burden of taxation, which is grinding out the substance of our people, and immensely retarding the progress of our wealth. That it is vastly injudicious now will not b 3 elenied, nor will posterity thank us for it. We have seen that, at the rate of pro gress from 1850 to 1860, our wealth in 1901 would be $466,063,481,116. Nov, suppose that we should, at that date, Fy this oppressive process, have extinguished our whole national debt of $2,500,000,000. According to every prin ciple of political economy, such a process, so oppressive to our industry, and retarding so much the progress of our weath, would have diminished the aggregate in 1901 at least ten per cent. It would be much greater, but even at ten per cant. the diminution in 1901. would be $46,566,348,211. Now, deduct from, this the whole debt then extin guished, and the difference would exhibit a loss of national wealth in 1901 exceeding $44,000,000,000 as the result of such oppressive taxation. Now, to pay six per cent. in terest annually, and reduce the principal of such a debt as ours, more than $500,000,000 in thirty-two years, is more than England or any other country has ever been able to accomplish in the same time. To do this would require an annual payment (exclusive of interest) of over $1 6 , 00 0,000 a year. But our payments ought to commence with a much smaller sum, say, beginning with only $1,000,000, and go on increasing at the rate of $1,000,000 a year, making the second payment $2,000,000, the third $3,000,000, and the last $30,000,000 in 1900 ; besides meet ing the annual interest, we should have paid more than $500,000,000 of the principal of the public debt in 1,900. Thus we would pay annually, in proportion to our con stantly increasing means, for we must reflect that, accord ing to the census, we could pay $29,000,000 as easily in propertion to our wealth in 1900 as we could $1,000,000 in 1860. Accompanying the resumption of specie payments, and essential as a part of the system designed to restore the prosperity of the country, must be an immense and im mediate reduction of taxation. To accomplish this, we must reduce expenditures, restore the Union, and dis burse only th r sums required in peace. Our expenditures, exclusive of the interest of the public debt, for the year preceding the war, were $59,848,474, of which the expenditures for the War and Navy Depart ments were $27,922,917, leaving our other expenditures $31,925,555. Now, supposing these to increase 50 per cent. (which should not be), it would make them $43,000,000. Now, if we double in time of peace our war and navy ex penditures, which is too great an increase, this would make them $56.000.000. This would make our whole annual expenditures, exclusive of the interest of the public debt, $104,000,000. To effect this reduction we must resume specie payments, for by laying in gold, the Government saves at once nearly 30 per cont. of the expenditure. The second great reduction should be in the mode of extinguishing the principal of the public debt. These payments, as I have attempted to show, should be gra duated in proportion to our means. Beginning with one million dollars per annum, increasing the payment by a like sum every year, and terminating in 1900 with a payment of thirty-two millions of dollars per annum. By thus graduating the payments in proportion to our means we should lift an immense burden of taxation from the people. Another item, growing out of the repeal of taxes and I excises, amounting to nearly $8,000,000, would be the dis banding of nearly our whole army of tax gatherers and the expenses incident thereto, which I shall discuss hereafter when considering the question of taxation. In this way, and by avoiding all unnecessary expenses, we can reduce our expenditure, exclusive of interest on the public debt, to $101,000,000. 1 have not before me the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury for this yearan , l can therefore only give the expenditures fur the year end ing the lst of July, 1866. These, as given by the Secre tary, were $387,693.199. This is exclusive of payments on account of principal and interest on the public debt. Now these last payments amount to $140,000,000 a year. This would make our whole expenditures at a maximum $244,000,000. This would be a reduction of $143,693,199, and compared with the expenditures of the fiscal year ending the Ist July, 1866, would enable us to reduce to that vast extent the taxes of the people. This revenue of $214,000,000 a year as a maximum I would derive from three sources alone ; 1. By a tariff for revenue. 2. By an excise on wines, malt, and spirituous liquors and tobacco ; abolishing all other internal taxation. 3 By a tax upon our national banks, based upon just and fair equivalents, remembering how essential they are to the prosperity of the country, and that we must not drive them into liquidation by unfair and unequal taxation, and thus revive the wretched State-bank system. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On the 7th instant the House of Representatives assembled to take the final vote on Impeachment. Mr. Wilson, of lowa, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, withdrew his motion to lay the Im peachment Reports upon the table, and the distinct proposition was brought forward after a discussion, in which the object of the impeachers was to ob tain delay by dilatory motions. " Resolved, that Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, be impeached of high crimes and misdemeanours." The vote upon this resolution was—Ayes, 57 ; nays, 108. The forty Democrats in the House voted, of course, unanimously against the proposition. The following are the names of the persons voting affir matively :—Messrs. Anderson, Arnell, Ashley, of Ohio ; Boutwell, Bromwell, Broomall, Butler, Churchill, Clarke, of Ohio ; Clarke, of Kansas ; Cobb, Coburn, Covode, Cullom, Donnelly, Eckley, Ela, Fansworth, Gravely, Harding, Highby, Hop kins, Hunter, Judd, Julian, Kelley, Kelsey, Law rence, of Ohio ; Loan, Logan, Loughbridge, Lynch, Maynard, M'Clurg, Mercur, Mullens, Myers, New comb, Nunn, O'Neal, Orth, Paine, Pile, Price, Schenck, Shanks, Stevens, of New Hampshire ; Stevens, of Pennsylvania ; Stokes, Thomas, Trim ble, Trowbridge, Van Horn, of Missouri ; Ward, Williams, of Pennsylvania ; Williams, of Indiana ; and Wilson, of Pennsylvania. Every Democrat present voted nay, and among the Republicans who voted against the resolution were John A. Bingham and Judge Spalding of Ohio, General Banks, Oakes Ames, and Dawes of Massachusetts, Jenckes of Rhode Island, Poland of Vermont, Blaine of Maine, General Garfield of Ohio, Van Wyck of New York, Wilson, of lowa, and the four Washburnes. Twenty-two members were absent, of whom 19 were said to be against and 3 for impeachment. The result as given • by States is as follows :—Maine, 1 aye, 4 nays ; New Hampshire, 2 ayes, 1 nay; Vermont, 3 nays ; Massachusetts, 2 ayes, 7 nays ; Rhode Island, 1 nay ; Connecticut, 4 nays ; New York, 3 ayes, 20 nays ; New Jersey, 4 nays ; Pennsylvania, 9 ayes, 11 nays; Delaware, 1 nay ; Maryland, 1 aye, 4 nays ; West Virginia, 2 nays : Ohio, 5 ayes, 13 nays ; Indiana, 6 ayes, 4 nays; Michigan, 1 aye, 4 nays ; Kentucky, 5 nays ; Illinois, 6 ayes, 7 nays Wisconsin, 3 ayes, 3 nays ; Minnesota, 1 aye ; lowa, 2 ayes, 4 nays ; Missouri, 7 ayes, 1 nay ; Tennessee, 6 ayes, 1 nay ; California, 1 aye, 2 nays ; Nevada, 1 nay ; Kansas, 1 aye, Of the 108 votes against im. peachment the majority were Republicans; being 62 of that party to 42 Democrats. On the 9th iust. General Butler introduced a resolution to refer the purchase of Ala,ka to a special committee. 73 Repre sentatives supported the resolution against 82 nays, giving the Government the narrow majority of 9 The House adopted the Senate bill to make equal rights among the whites and blacks compulsory in the district of Columbia, enabling negroes to hold office and sit on juries. Mr. Ramsay, of Minnesota, brought forward a bill to revive the reciprocity treaty with Canada. The bill provides for an ad valorem duty of five per cent. on all importations of articles of Canadian production ; for assimila tion of the excise duties of the two nations ; for freedom of navigation in the great lakes, the St. Lawrence and its canals ; for extension of equal privileges to Canadian and American vessels in American ports ; for freedom of the fisheries ; for the extension of a common system of laws, patent rights, copyrights, postage, &c., over both coun tries ; for the cession of the North-Western Terri tory to the United States upon payment of $6,000,000 to the Hudson's Bay Company, assump- REPORTS OF THE HEADS OF DE PARTMENTS. The following summary of the Reports of the Heads of the United States Government Depart- ments is from the Springfield Republican : REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. The leading statistics of the Report of Secretary Welles are given in the President's Message. Be- sides the sixty. five millions placed in the Treasury from the sales of vessels and supplies, the depart ment has reserved for the current year about thirty-eight and a half millions from the same source ; so that appropriations to the amount of less than ten millions will be needed to cover the estimates of the year ending 30th of June, 1869, which are placed at $47,317,183. These estimates included appropriations of $717,828 for the Kittery navy yard, $2,382,135 for that of Charleston, $3,913,754 for that of Brooklyn, $1,256,885 for that at Pensacola, and $646,145 for that at Norfolk. The number of deaths of per sons connected with the navy during the year ending October 1, 1867, was 395. The naval pen sion fund now amounts to $13,000,000, and there are 2,478 pensioners, whose annual pensons dar ing the year amounted to $319,828. The Sec retary refers to the valuable addition male to the Kittery navy yard by the purchase of Seary's Island, and the necessity of appropriations from Congress for making necessary improvements. Appropriations are also urged for the navy yards at Norfolk and Pensacola. The League Island property will probably be transferred to the Go vernment by the City of Philadelphia early in the coming year. The transfer would have been made before but for the difficulty in acquiring a legal title from various private owners. Further purchases of land and the erection of additional buildings for the naval academy of Annapolis are recommended. The naval apprentice system is highly commended, and an increase of the pay of seamen so as to induce permanent service is strongly urged. THE POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. The Report of Postmaster-General Randall pre bents a great many interesting facts in regard to the operations of the Post-office department, and the rapid extension of our mail facilities to the ends of the earth. The department received three quarters of a million more than it expended last year. The receipts for postages increased six per cent. ; the total estimates for next year are $22,837,500 ; the use of a stamped envelope is ra pidly increasing ; the sale of stamps and stamped envelopes reached nearly $13,000,000 ; an improved stamp, to more completely prevent fraud, is in pre paration ; on June 30 last there were 7,743 mail routes in operation, the whole length being 203,245 miles ; railroad routes, 34,015 miles ; steamboat, 15,091 miles ; whole extent of annual transporation nearly 79,000,000 of miles ; increase of miles over 186 G, 22,344, or over seven miles of transportation. Mr. Randall devotes a chapter to the new steam ship routes provided for by legislative contract. An investigation into the weight of mails and price for carriage shows an average of 20,000 pounds per day between New York and Philadelphia, at $375 per mile for the year, which is the highest land com pensation. Much attention has been given to through mails between New York and New Orleans, and gener ally very good time has been made. There are now 18 railway postal routes (post-office cars), extend ing 4,435 miles, 879 miles served twice a-day. By the new foreign postal arrangements, treaties, &c., Mr. Randall considers that we have gained material advantages thereby. An arrangement has been made with llong Kong for regular mails ; the new Pacific ocean routes are important, and require legislative attention and assistance. The whole number of removals during the year was 3,444 ; of appointments, 9,774 ; new post-offices, 1,885 ; post offices discontinued, 6,111 ; whole number of offices, June 30, 25,163. Dead letters are leas frequent this year. The money order system is established in 1,224 offices; 474,496 orders were issued during the year, amounting to $9,269,328—m0re than three times as much as in the previous year. The fees received were about $71,000, which was $6,261 over expenses. The report calls special attention to the immense increase of foreign mail service, for which Mr. Randall wants a special superintendent. On the matter of using the telegraph for postal pure poses he has no opinion, but thinks it would be well to see how it works in Great Britain. On this question the words of the report are : " The subject of connecting the telegraphic system of the country with the postal service has attracted .public attention, and it received, to some extent, the consideration of my predecessor. It has recently transpired that the telegraphic system of Great Britain has been put in charge of the British Post-office department. It is a matter of great importance, and its propriety and practi cability ought to be thoroughly investigated by Congress. The most efficient mode of examination of the subject, in my judgment, would be the ap pointment of a special commission to inquire into the working of the new arrangement in Great Bri tain, and into its feasibility in the United States, and report to Congress fur such action as may be wisely taken." The report closes with a sharp hit at the outra geous abuse of the franking privilege by using printed or stamped facsimiles of names of Congress men to circulate lottery tickets, cards, books, &c. THE INTERNAL REVENUE. The report of the Commissioner Rollins of the in ternal revenue bureau is fuller and longer than any of his previous documents, and gives the receipts in full for the last two years. The aggregate re ceipts for the last fiscal year were $265,920,474, of which, after deducting the amounts drawn back and refunded, the Government netted $263,459,262, or about $47,000,000 less than for the previous year. The reduction is partially owing to the de crease in taxation, made last winter, and the addi tion of many articles to the free list. Comparative tables show that the receipts from stamps are up wards of $1,000,000 greater than they were last year ; incomes $3,500,000 less ; cotton $3,400,000 more; licenses, $lOO,OOO more; cig,rs, che roots, &c., $200,000 more; chewing and smok ing tobacco, nearly $3,000,000 more ; distilled liquors $900,000 less. The revenue from dis tilled spirits was $28,296,264, and the Commis sioner says that 32,399,626 gallJns were reported to revenue officers, and can be accounted for by them during the year. A considerable proportion of this, of course, is yet in bond, and therefore has not paid any tax. The expenses of the revenue bureau this year are $7,712,000, which is about $22,000 in excess of last year. The number of smuggling cases compromised during the year was 578, mostly where the evidence was insufficient. The Commissioner estimates that the aggregate re ceipts of the bureau for the fiscal year ending next June will be about $225,000,000, and for the year ending June, 1869, about $240,000,000. THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT. The Report of Secretary Browning of the Interior states that during the late fiscal year 7,041,114 acres of public land were disposed of for which the cash THE "TIMES" ON MR. CHARLES DICKENS AMERICA. Yesterday the Times published an article on Mr. I Dickens's reception in America, which embodies much that has been the burden of our song ever since we began to sing. The Times has discovered that the Americans of to-day are not the Americans of a generation back ; that they are not so extremely sensitive ; —nor spoilt children ; nor liable to be seized with unceasing fits of ill-temper ;—that they are not filled with petty hatreds nor malignities, but, on the contrary, are a liberal minded and fair dealing people, with great warmth and kindness of ! character. In the knowledge of the high place they have taken in the world, in their firm belief of a future such as no other nation has the smallest chance of realising, they feel the calm assurance of a known and recognised position, and can there fore afford to let their enemies rave. The Times recognises that a class has a direct interest in per petuating distrusts and inducing the two nations to hate each other. It is composed of the Irish- Americans, who have agents in both Houses of Congress, and friends in Great Britain who never weary in telling the English that the Americans de- test them, and would gladly go to war against them, while in the United States they find inces sant occupation in exasperating every imaginable grievance. The Times considers Mr. Dickens's welcome is the best answer to these people and the finest testimony to the generous character of the Americans. Not only did Dickens not spare their progenitors, but he picked out the marked peculia rities of a class and wrought them up into enduring pictures, while the more attractive qualities of the people were left unnoticed. The same process has been applied to England by Americans. Who then are able to appreciate the misrepresenta tion. It is after such an experience that Dickens is welcomed, and the 7imes argues that " A people who can act thus cannot be so bitterly prejudiced against everything English, as some would have us believe. Every one who has seen much of the Americans has been impressed with the warmth and kindness of their character, and by the avowed affection which a large proportion of them entertain for the country from which they take their origin. The naturalised citizen may rage and fume against the country from which he sprang, or its rulers. But the true American is ever ready to do justice when he is called upon for action. The visit of Mr. Dickens supplies another illustration of this, and will go further than a score of books to prove that the sentiment of kindness and honest feeling—in a word, of good-fellowship-- is as active among the Americans, and may be as safely depended on, as it can possibly be among the English or any other people." Charles Dickens having completed his readings in Boston commenced in New York his series on the evening of the 9th inst. in Steinway Hall. He contemplates a course of eighty readings, which will carry him over a large portion of America. It is expected that he will net a profit of $150,000. An enterprising American—a people always ready to do a stroke of business—offered him $1,500 a night if the author would hand himself over to his charge, and that he would pay all expenses in addition. One specu lator purchased as many as 500 tickets of admission and held them at 12 to 17 dollars a piece ; and although all the seats had been sold by Mr. Dolby yet the hall was not quite filled, as the tickets could not all be disposed of at that price. It is also stated that counterfeits of the tickets were circu lated.—Anglo-Anierican THE EAST AND WEST. (From an American paper.) " The Western World" and " Plymouth Rock These two names, full of history and significance, were givon a few years since to two splendid float ing palace steamers, designed and built to accom modate the travelling public going to and fro, from the East to the West, and vice versa along the great central through r)ute of travel. These steamers embodied one of the numerous results of the ever ad vancing spirit of enterprise which has so signally marked the progress of the Michigan Central Railroad and its management during the last 20 years, in the endeavour to furnish the best and most perfect accommodations for the travelling public in every respect. These boats failed; not from any want of completeness in themselves, but because the electric pulses of the peripatetic and would-be übiquitous public demand a means of locomotion only less rapid than that of the lightning itself, and these steamers, with their gay and splendid appoint ments, " went into ordinary," and were finally laid up to rot. But their names still lived— the Western World, with its boundless prairies and endless chain of lakes, river and mountain, called to old Plymouth Rock unceasingly, bidding it come in the spirit of those who first stepped foot upon the shore, and win the wilds of this section to civilisation and greatness. Time flew, and the young giant of the West, outstripping in execution even the most seemingly Utopian imaginings of the plodding East, reached backward with its hooks of steel and clenched the iron bonds that to-day bind Plymouth Rock to the Western World. And he has again immortalised those two pregnant names, by emblazoning them upon the gilded pro portions of two palace sleeping chariots, whose like was never seen, neither was it dreamed of in Eastern philosophy, or learned in Oriental lore. Scarce half a year has passed since the union was com pleted, and now Omaha, far away on the con fines of the great American plains, sends greet ing to old Massachusetts Bay, through the music of a million revolutions of our palace car wheels, whose roll never ceases to resound till the thousand miles are passed. The " Western World," and " Plymouth Rock," with their con sorts, will carry through " without change of cars.' The Central link in this great chain —the keystone of this mighty arch which spans the continent—is the Michigan Central Railroad, and to it more than to any other single power, if not all others corn binod, is duo the credit of what has been done. The pioneer in all improvements that tend to pro mote the comfort of his patrons, she still leads the advance. For proof that this is no idle boast,we refer to the recent placing upon this line of the new palace hotel car, " City of Boston," to run between here and Chicago. It was said, when the palace sleep ing cars, Atlantic and Pacific, and the palace hotel car named above, were put upon the line, that the ne plus ultra had been reached--that railroad travel now stood upon the ultirna thule, and could go no farther. But the " City of New York" followed, however, and now this, the fourth of this class, has just been placed upon the road. In finish and in ternal accommodations, this car as far surpasses vance any and all its predecessors as they were in of anything of the kind in the country. The " City of Boston" is 70 feet in length, and contains within as spacious dimensions the entire and complete paraphernalia and accommodations of a first-class hotel. It has a saloon or hall capable of accommodating forty passengers, besides state and drawing rooms where families may shut themselves up in seclusion from any and all other passengers, during the entire route for days together. Altogether sixty-four persons can be amply accommodated with seats or berths in this single car. A kitchen, with its cooking range, steam and hot water, pantry, wine closet, &c., compactly built and almost entirely unexposed to view. Meals are cooked while the trait! moves 40 miles an hour, as expeditiously and nicely, and served with as much elegance as in the best hotels. A bell connected with each compartment summons the waiter any moment, and everything desired can be had for the asking, and the charge for all the delicacies and substantials of the Paso❑ is no more than at the hotels. The fare is only 50 cents more in these hotel cars than the price of an ordinary ticket. The car is finished in black walnut highly polished and carved in medallion and unique designs. French plate mirrors occupy the ornamented panels between the seats ; tables_ are arranged so as to be set by a simple touch of a spring ; the seats and chairs, sofas and ottomans, in a much less time than itlakes to tell it, can be transformed into luxu rious couches, with hair mattresses, full-sized pil lows, and sheets fresh from the laundry. The cur tains are of the finest Terry silk and the carpets Wilton. The magic touch of the attendants in the early morning, causes all the berths to disappear, and the cushioned seats of yesterday take their places. The upper berths shut into the wall and ceiling so as to " leave no sign" of their nature or use. The head lining is beautifully painted and striped in rich designs ; the curtain rods, lamp supports, brackets, &c., are all silver plated, as are also the window fastenings. The window lifts and stops are combined, and fitted with rubber tips to prevent any jar or rattle with the run ning of the car. The walnut finish is beau tifully relieved by ebony mouldings. There are many minor details which go to make up the ele gance and perfection of the car, but they must be seen to be appreciated. This car was built in Chi cago, and cost $30,000, a sum sufficient to buy several fine residences on the avenue. Upon the panel containing the name " City of Boston" on the outside of the car is the significant representation of hub" with broken spokes and missing felloes, over which the tall blades of rank grass growing seem to form the word " Hum," while a big " bug" is seen crawling among the rubbish below. Our Boston cousins will appreciate the artist's fancy in this particular. THE NE W PUS] -OFFICE REGULATIONS. On the Ist day of January next, the combined rate of British and United States postage on let ters posted in the United Kingdom, addressed to any part of the United States, and whether con veyed by packet or by private ship, will be reduced to 6d. per half ounce, or fraction thereof, provided such postage be prepaid. Unpaid or insufficiently paid letters will be liable, on their delivery in the United States, to an additional charge. Upon re gistered letters a registration fee of 4d. will be chargeable; and this fee, together with the post age, must be prepaid. A corresponding reduction will be made on the same day in the postage of letters forwarded through the United States to the following colonies and other places, viz.:—Canada (including Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island), British Columbia, Van couver's Island, Havannah, Mexico, Panama, and Colon. Letters for any of the . British colonies here specified will be chargeable with a reduced rate of 7d. per ioz., or fraction thereof. The same rate of 7d. will also be chargeable on letters for Bermuda, addressed " via New York." The post age of letters addressed to British Honduras (which are now forwarded, as a rule, by way of New York and Kew Orleans) will also be reduced, and will become Is. Id. per loz., or fraction thereof. Letters for any of the foreign places named above will be chargeable with a reduced rate of ls. per loz., or fraction thereof. Upon all letters for such foreign places, as well as upon those for British Columbia and 'V ancouver's Island, the post age must be paid in advance. On the Ist of Jan. next, and thenceforward, book packets, as also pat terns or samples of merchandise, may be for warded in the mails sent by mail packets, via New York, to Canada and the rest of British North America, British Columbia, Vancouver's Island, Sandwich Islands, Havannah, Mexico, Panama, and Colon. The postage chargeable on all such book packets and patterns will be 4d. per or fraction thereof, which postage must be paid in advance and by means of postage stamps. The British mail packets of the Cunard line will, after Ist of January next, proceed invariably to New York direct, instead of alternately to New York direct and to Boston by way of Halifax. In addition to this line of packets, steam vessels be longing to the Liverpool, Nevi York, and Philadel phia Steamship Company will, from the same date, convey mails weekly from Queenstown to New York, and steam vessels belonging to the North German Lloyd of Bremen will convey mails weekly from Southampton to New York under contracts with the Postmaster-General. The following will be the arrangements for the despatch of mails to the United States after the end of this year :—Departure from London on Tuesday, by day mail, from Southamp ton, Tuesday, 2 p.m., by the North German Lloyd line of packets ; departure from London on Wed nesday, by night mail, from Queenstown, Thurs day, 3 30 p.m., by the Liverpool, New York, and Philadelphia Steamship Company line of packets ; departure from London on Thursday, by night mail, from Moville (Londonderry), Friday, 5 30 p.m., by the Montreal Ocean Steamship Company line of packets; departure from Loudon on Saturday, by night mail, from Queenstown, Sunday, 3 30 pin. , by the Cunard Company's line of packets. All letters, &c., addressed to the United States will be forwarded in the first mail despatched after such letters, &c., are posted, unless specially directed to be otherwise sent. Letters, &c., marked to be for warded by any particular vessel will be so for warded. The mails for Nova Scotia, New Bruns' wick, Prince Edward Maud, Bermuda, and New foundland, which have hitherto been conveyed to Halifax by the Cunard packet proceeding to Boston , will henceforth be conveyed from Queenstown to Halifax by a separate packet, sailing on every alter nate Sunday as at present. ,t The St. Louis Democrat states that, accordiOg to estimates based on good authority, not less than WC hundred thousand persons have settled iu Missouri duril) the past year. The growth of the Western States an d Territories is one of the wonders of this marvellous age. Births. CROFTON— 0 n the 25th inst., at Gairney House, Ed iti.* burgh, the Hon. Mrs. Francis Crofton, of a da,ughter . CORRY—On Christmas-day, at 37, Lowndes-squarel the wife of Armar Lowry Corry, Esq., of a son. ll- WESTON —On the 25th inst., at Bervie House, Roll park, the wife of Robert W. G. Weston, Esq., of a so:o• Marriages. GOODWIN—STORER—On the 25th inst., at St. Martin's -Dl' the-Fields, Robert Goodwin, Esq., R.N., to Lucy Au n „ e d eldest daughter of R. M. Storer, Esq., of Londo n, Coduo Alfreton. RANDALL SPONG —0 U the Nth inst., at S. Mary's, Ferrers, Edward Brown, eldest sou of Thomas Rauda Esq., to Elizabeth, eldrst daughter of James Spong, Mayor of the above town. Deaths. BALL On the 21st inst., George Ball, Esq., of 2, CrovY ll.- court, rhilpot-lane, city. ara BARNARD —On the 2Gth inst., at llighbury Park , Easy-- Barnard, of Angel-street, aged 71. GUNTON—On the 27th inst., at Southwark, Captain Thos. Gunton, aged 91. BYnox-09 the 26th inst., Cecil George, infant son Of the Hon. aud Rev. Augustns Byon. - CLA.UDET —On the 27th inst., r suddenly, Antoine JL' a t il Francois Claudet, F.R.S., &c., of 107, Rege nt-- aged 71. CIIANDLER—On the 21st inst., suddenly, James Chandler' of Epsom, aged 81. BWat London : Printed and Published by WILLIA.AI KNOB , „ of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tau Sus 081 co, No 11 1 Strand, in the Precinct of the Se voy , in the County° Middlosox,—Saturday, December 28, 1867. t - 1A " b ~~~~ ,~~. r i zr i Lul lli &c. BENT Or p.m. 14, VA: hul ALit For