The Sun. — London, England, 1855-12-26 00:00:00

pn0m......... -- THE SUN, TO ARRIVE THE SAME EVENING, supplied to any gTATION on the EASTERN COLTI,TTIES_,RAILWAY, Carriage Free, by CLAYTON and SON, General Newspaper and Advertising Agents, 265, Strand, London. MADAME JENNY GOLDSCHMIDT-LIN D. EXETER-HALL. —On THURSDAY EVENING next, December 27, 1855, Haydn's Oratorio of THE CREATIO will be repeated. Principal Singers—Madame Goldschraidt, Mr N . Locket', and Mr. Lawler. Handel's Oratorio of THE MESSIAH will be produced on MON DAY Evening, Dec. 31, in which Madame Goldschraidt will slag the principal oprano part. The Chorus and Orchestra will consist of more than 600 performers. Conductor, 51. Benedict. Prices of admission. —Stalls (Numbered and Reserved), One of the Hall), 101. 6d. ; West Gal- Guinea ; Uunreserved Seats (Body lery, 10s. id.; Area (under West Gallery), 7s. Doors open at Seven to commence at Eight o clock precisely. Correct Books of the, oratorios are given with the Tickets. Application for Tickets to be made at Mraditelleirs Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street. Due notice w ill be g i v en of the first Miscellaneous Concert. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Under the Management of Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, THE LADY OF LYONS. Claude Meinotte, Mr. Howe ; Colonel Damas, Mr. Chippendale; Beattgatlt, Mr. W. Farren ; Pauline Deschappelles, Miss Reynolds. After which a New Comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE BUTTERFLY'S BALL _USD THE GRASSHOPPER'S FEAST ; or, Nariequin and the Genius of the Spring. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. _ Under the Management of Mr. CHM= REAL THIS EVENING, THE HEIR-AT-LAW. After whic'i will be produced a New Grand Christmas Panto mime, entitled. HARLEQUIN AND THE MAID AND THE MAGPIE; or, the Fairy Paradisa and Hanky Panky, the Enchanter. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Haling ; Pantaloon, Mr . Paula; and Columbine, Miss Phoebe Beale. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manaaer, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING, THE JEALOUS WIFE. Characters by Messrs. A. Wigan, G. Vining, Emory, Leslie, Dan vers, Mrs. Stirling, and Miss Marston. After which will be produced a New and doubly-moral, though excessively old, Melodramatic Fairy Extravaganza, entitled THE DISCREET PRINCESS; or, the Three Glass Distaffs. In which Messrs. Emery, F. Robson, H. Cooper, Miss Harstoi, and Hiss Haskell will appear. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHT. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING. MOTHER AND CHILD ARE DOING WELL. After which HOW'S YOUR UNCLE' To conclude with a Graad Coalition of Burlesque and Pantomime, to he called JACK AND THE BEAN STALK; or, Harlequin and Mother Goose at Home Again. In wh!ch Messrs. J. Bland, P. Bedford, Madame Celeste, Miss Wyndham, and Miss E. Arden will ap?ear. ROYAL SURREY THEATRE. Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd end Creswick. THIS EVENING THE FLOWER GIRL. To conclude with A PRINCE OF PEARLS; or, Harlequin and Jane Shore. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE, Under the direction of Mr. Payne. THIS EVENING, ZsTOEUIE ; or, The Foster Sister. After which, IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY. To conclude with HARLEQUIN BLACK-EYED SUE ; or, All in the Downs and Davy Jones's.Locker. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Win. Cooke. Equestrian Comic Pantomime, the only one in the world ! THIS (WEDNESDAY) EVENING (Boxing Night), The successful Equidrame called ROOKWOOD ; or, TURPIN'S SLIDE to YORK. After which the SCENES in the CIRCLE. To conclude with (first time), a Grand Equestrian Comic Panto mime from the pen of Mr. Nelson Lee, called HARLEQUIN AND ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON, or the Seven Champions o' Christendom. One hundred horses, ponies, and other quadrupeds, trained by Mr. William Cooke, who ha 3 invented and arranged all the equestrian effects. This astontshinq production may be desig nated the " Eighth Wonder of the World." It Is as exhibition un precedented and unparalleled ! .111ex-orrice open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke. Jun. 'N HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. MIA DAY—Morn. 33 min. aft. 3- Evening 57 min. aft TO-MORROW—Morn.I7 min. aft. 4—Evening 34 min. aft, THE WEATHER—Su:4 OFFICE, Dec. 26. THERMOMETER, IN THE. SHADE. 50 - highest sines noon yesterday. 45 -lowest this morning and during the night. 51 -this day at noon. DARomETELt, 99.19—a fail of nearly half an inch since yesterday. WrND.—S.W., fresh, blowing nearly a gale, with squally rainy weather. • 4. LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1355 We are now approaching the third year of the War. The inclemency of the season has for the present suspended active operations, and com pelled a temporary armistice. The Allied Armies, while vigilantly watching the foe, so as to prevent the possibility of any surprise, are els) engaged in the more pleasing duty of making themselves as comfortable as circumstances will permit, so that they may be enabled to take the field in the spring with renovated strength and vigour. The condition of the Allies is indeed very different from that which excited so many justly indignant complaints twelve months since. Having accomplished the arduous task on which they had entered they aro no longer worn out with excessive toil, nor are they tantalised by the prospect of abundance whilst enduring the most serious privations. They have no longer to en counter most fatiguing and dangerous daily work in the trenches, or to expend their time and labour in bringing up guns and ammuniti on , i n place of the provisions and shelter so urgently re quired. They are also suitably clothed, and have not to await the advent of spring for the distri bution of their winter garmentF. So far, then, the condition of our army is as good as could reasonably be expected. If they have not all the comforts of home, they hare as many as could be hoped for under existing cir cumstances. But what preparations are making in France and England for the energetic aud un flinching prosecution of the War, in such a manner as will thoroughly humiliate the pride and crush the power of Our Gigantic Adversary ? We have too long endeavoured to bring Russia to a true sense of her situation by comparatively gentle means. But honeyed words in the shape of diplomatic conferences, and even the flinging of clods and lesidangerous missiles, having totally failed to subdue her overweening arrogance, we must now follow the example of the old man in the fable, and really try " what virtue there may be in stones !" It is generally supposed that the recent propositions forwarded through Count which he is instructed VALENTIN ESTEaHAZY, or on to obtain the views of the Cabinet of St. Peters burg, will be decidedly rejected ; that the Czars dares not accept terms which would involve the complete and unequivocal abandonment of the traditional policy of Russia inaugurated by ETER, and steadily followed up by his predecessors with greater or less activity. The old Mus covite party are still formidable. The truth has not as yet penetrated into the inmost recesses of the nation sufficiently to induce the fanatic population to abandon their long cherished views of universal domination —when the AUTOCRAT, in possession of the Bosphorus and the Scandinavian kin g doms , with ports on the Mediterranea n , and the Atlantic, and the North Sea, might dictate to Europe, perhaps to the world. There is, therefore, no use in persist ing in a penny-wise-and -poised foolish policy, in waging a little war, or allowing the sacrifices we have already submitted to to be productive of inade- THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EvENING, DECEMBER 26, 1855. quate results. The true friends of peace—those who are desirous of obtaining permanent tran quillity for Europe, and banishing " grim-visaged war" from the face of the earth on the cheapest and most eligible terms, are those who call on the Western Powers to put forth all their mighty strength, to tax their gigantic resources to the uttermost, so that by attacking the enemy in every vulnerable point there can no longer be either doubt or difficulty as to the result. In order to accomplish that great desideratum every plan for the ensuing campaign must be care fully matured and decided on by France and England. There are many points to which at tention must be directed, so that we may follow lup to their legitimate consequences the successes we have already achieved. In the South East we occupy four important stations or bases of ope rations—at Sebastopol and Balaklava, at Eupa toria, at Yenikale and the Kertch Peninsula, and at Kinbourn. From the former we threaten the whole of the Crimea. We may, by simulta neous movements, completely surround the Rus sian army, and insure its capitulation or destruc tion. From the last we command the portals leading to Nicolaieff and Kherson, the arsenal and granary of Southern Russia, and totally prevent the maritime trade through the Boug and the Dnieper. All these positions must be ren dered as available as practicable to ac complish the great end and object of the War, and to save our children and Ichildren's children from the severe trials and sac rifices which we have been compelled to submit to for their sake. Nor can Asia be forgotten. The fall of Kars has given a heavy blow and great discouragement to the Ottoman Power in a very important point. It is unnecessary now to consider the means by which that serious calamity might have been averted. It will unquestionably cost much to regain what might have been saved at a compara tively trivial expense. But our present object is not to criminate any parties, or to search out those responsible for the past, provided the wisest and most judicious means be adopted to retrieve the mischief. These will require mature and attentive consideration to devise future measures, worthy of the great champions of justice and civilisation, the guardians of liberty in every land and clime where it is imperilled. The proceedings in the Baltic and on, other points, where very important steps may be taken, also require careful forethought, and not an hour should be lost in deciding on every matter that may arise during the rapidly approaching season for active operations. It is said, and with much apparent truth, that a Council of War is to be almost immediately held in Paris, for the purpose of discussing and deciding on these all-important matters, at which the Duke of CAMBRIDGE, Sir R. AIRET, Sir E. LYONS, and probably other distin guished persons, may attend on the part of Eng land. This is as it should be, and we have no doubt that the results will be in the highest de gree beneficial to the glorious cause which the inhabitants of both countries, the peoples of France and England, have so deeply at heart. Nothing must be allowed for the forbearance of the enemy, but every nerve strained to render Russia harmless for many years to come. News direct from Russia, via New York, is pretty sure to be news indeed. However much " domestic" considerations may predispose a cer tain class of American citizens to espouse the part of Russia, nothing would seem to stimulate their good-will to partisanship so much as flattery by the great in that country. The trio of I good natured Friends who paid the late CIAR a pop visit on an embassy of peace had, it must be con fessed, a narrow escape ; but a conceited Ameri can exposed to Russian wile has no chance at all, and whatever he was before is sure to reach home half Greek and half Cossack. To be hospitably received, courted, feted, and deferred to by a European despot and his myrmidons, noble and ignoble, is quite enough, and more than enough, to turn his head. It is such a glorious recogni tion of the claims of Nature's (American) Nobles to be considered net merely equal in every re spect to Fortune's, but superior, that the recipient feels bound in honour to give his imagination wing, and do his utmost to demonstrate that in the discharge of the offices of friendship, as in every thing else, America can " whip the world." In dividuals of other countries, not excluding our own, do not stick at a trifle in the beaten way of friendship, but JONATIIIN sticks at nothing. The former, when practising the easy art of lying, feel restrained a little by European conventionalities, not so JONATII AN. Born to rove, if he likes, un molested through pathless wilds, and able to whip his weight in wild cats, no such trammels can stay him. If he is to do Russia a good turn it must be in his own way—so as the truth won't at all serve her turn, he must lie for her with as much licence as the " buffaler " browses on the wide-spread prairies in the far west. Thus it comes to pass, that with all the will and some talent, he falls short of being a great artist. He don't reflect that before a man can be a magnificent story teller he must learn to tame his fancy, and to respect the prejudices of those on whom he is desirous to practise. A fine specimen of his country, i.e., in the opinion of those who have done their best to de grade it, and certainly of the class we have been noticing, is Col. TAL P. SHAFFNER, who, it will be seen, has, just now on his return from Russia, favoured the Editor of a New York paper with the results of his observation and experience. Everywhere welcomad and hospitably entertained during an extended tour through Russia, ho re turns home more Russian a greatdeal than the Russ. The Allies don't know what a tough customer they have to deal with. They are labouring, as they will find to their cost, under the wildest delusions. Instead of the War being unpopular in. R uss i a, it is popular to fanaticism. Instead of forced levies being dragged in gangs to the recruitin g d epot, the conscripts rush there with ardour and devo tion. Instead of the nobles being dissatisfied with the loss of their bondsmen, they are only too happy to hand them over to the CZAR, t) whom, " if ho required it," they are prepared to give up cheerfully all their property in money and estates likewise. Instead of the merchants being in a tottering condition, they are prosperous to a miracle. Instead of a feeling of apprehension as to the results of the War being general, every body is satisfied that Russia must triumph. In stead of Russia' having suffered losses of conse quence during the last campaign, what she has suffered have been of quite an unimportant na ture. Instead of her finances being embarrassed, "with the exception of a small loan, the whole expenses have been defrayed from the revenues of the country. There is no lack of means (he tells us), and as a proof of this it is only necessary to state that the pub lic works (fortification s ?) which were commenced last year are carried on with unabated vigour, and on the same extensive scale on which they were begun." Instead of the Church being impo verished by the War it is being enriched. The effects of the War are scarcely perceptible. The Government are making preparations for a ten years' war. The means of the imperial family alone are sufficient to carry it on at its present rate for many years without calling upon the nobles ! The mines never yielded so much, and the principal manufactures were never so prosperous ! ! Nicolaieff is impregnable, Cronstadt an impossibi lity, and the Imperial family as well welded to gether as the fortifications!!! Everything is pa triotism, prosperity, piety, and brotherly love, and presages well for a prosperous issue. The Allies, in a word, have caught a Tartar, and are in an everlasting fix. But enough ! A liar without genius may suit some palates, but cer tainly not ours—and one with less genius and more impudence than Col. SHA.F.FNEZ we fancy does not exist. We are heartily sick of a fellow who can lie neither with:decency nor humour, but only " slick ahead." The worse than absurd, the mischievously foolish spirit of economy which we awhile back showed had taken possession of the Burnley Com missioners still troubles them. Not content with having resolved not to entertain any application from their servants for an increase of salary, they have proceeded to withhold what most people will be of opinion they actually owed. According to the Preston Chronicle, the Registrar of the Ceme tery has sent in his resignation, because, instead of dating the commencement of his salary from the period of his appointment, they had arbitrarily resolved it should be dated from the period of his entering on the duties of the office, and that notwithstanding he had been out of employment during the interval. Is there no one in their respective circles to inform them that spoliation is not economy, and that a tyrant on a small scale cannot but be contemptible as well as noxious ? Really the Commissioners stand in much need of a friendly turn, and the sooner they have it the better, if their acquaintance would have them remain in office. shot. certain that Austria has promised efficacious assistance to the allies, in the event of the Czar rejecting the overtures of Count Esterhazy. Public opinion hourly increases against Russia, and this reaction is all the more painful to her as her influence over the German press is a mystery to no one. The papers that enjoy her patronage have for some months past felt its inconveni ence. The middle class shows a decided preference for the independent press. Although peace bo ardently desired yet few believe in it, and many conjectures are formed as to the next campaign. We can foresee an invasion by the allies of the Russian territory of the Bal tic, and which will be combined with a diversion of the Danube. The troops of the Crimea will bo conducted to the mouths of that river, and combine their opera tions with the 150,000 men that Austria can put in line. The probable results of that double attack, which, they say will be executed in the month of May, are discussed with much interest. The general opinion is, that it will be decisive, and that the issue will be as fatal to Russia as it will be favourable to the plans respecting the resto ration of Poland. I cannot, of course, say how far these conjectures aro well founded ; perhaps the public guesses beforehand, as it usually does, the acts and even the thoughts of the Government, but I only repeat the rumours that circulate, and which are not mere gossip, as they obtain credit in certain well-informed saloons. Be this as it may, they serve, at all events, to show how public opinion points, and for this reason I think it worth while to mention them." FRANCE. PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING. A camp of 40,000 men will be formed this win ter at Cherbourg. The Patric says nothin g is definitely settled with regard to a proposed visit of the Sultan to Paris. his Highness has accepted the Cordon of the Legion d'Houneur, which is a great innovation on Oriental customs. At the present moment the Prussian Govern ment is trying hard to be admitted into the peace proposit ions. The Cabinets of England and France are just now addressing more than one foreign State with a view of forming a defensive alliance. A holiday at the Bourse of Paris. No quota tions. that were engaged for the Havannah Theatre. Seven teen of the dead bodies have been picked up and buried, five are still missing. We likewise learn that five individuals were drowned who belonged to a French barque, which during the bad weather sunk deep in the sand at the mouth of the Guadiaro. The Bahiana, which passed the garrison to the east ward on the morning of the 13th, was from London, with military stores and horses for the Crimea. The Northumberland (steam transport), having taken in at the New Mole 105 tons of coals, started at nine o'clock this morning for Spithead. LATEST NEWS. MARSEILLES, DEC. 25. The Caire has arrived with advices from Con stantinople of the 14th, and from the Crimea of he 11th inst. Despatches left at 1 p.m. The Russians attacked the French positions at Baga on the 9th of December, but were repulsed with the loss of 70 killed and 20 made prisoners. The weather has been frightful in the Black Sea. Twelve merchantmen, of various nations, had been wrecked at the Sulina mouth of the Danube. From Asia wo learn that the garrison of Kutais had quitted that place, and retired to Gori—a defile loading into Georgia. TURIN, DEC. 25. General La Marmora is expected hero from the Orimea. MADRID, DEC. 24. At Mancesa three Carlist chiefs have been RUSSIA. The Journal de St. Petersbourg, of the 18th December, publishes the official account of the sur render of C.ars. _ _ It precedes it with the following letter of Vassif Pasha, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Anatolia, dated the 14th (26th)' November, giving full powers to General Williams to negotiate : " Most eminent, most worthy, sagacious, and most noble General Mouravieff " His Excellency the Ferik Williams Pasha, a digni- tary of the great English Power, being in this country, is appointed by us and provided with full powers to ne gotiate the evacuation of Kars ; this letter is written by me to inform your Excellency of the circumstance. " The 15th of Raby-el-Aouel, 1272. Sealed with the seal of " MEHMED VASSIF PASHA." "Act of the Surrender of the Town and Fortress of Kars on the Stipulations agreed upon between the Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Caucasus, Aide-de-Camp General Mouravieff, and General Wil liams, Commissary of her Majesty the Queen of Eng land ; the 13th (25th) of November, Head-Quarters of Tcbiftli-Kaya. " Art. 1. Surrender of the fortress with all its materiel intact. The guns surrendered are not to be spiked ; the stores and arms are to be given up in the same state as they are actually in ; the ammunition, powder, arsenals, deposits of military clothes and stores are to be given up as they stand in the official returns up to the day of surrender. Nothing is to be detracted or taken from the archives. "On evacuating Kars, the troops are to leave posts, each of three men and a corporal, at the following points :—At each fort, redoubt, or battery armed with artillery ; at each powder magazine, arsenal, or military depot, hospital, archives, treasury, and mosque. Com missaries shall be appointed by the Turkish authorities for each part of the materiel, as the treasury, arsenals, artillery, hospitals, provision stores, and archives, charged to hand over the same to commissaries appointed for that purpose by the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian army. "Immediately the troops have left the place the above mentioned posts are to be relieved by Russian posts in the presence of the above-named Turkish Commander and of the newly-appointed Russian Commandant. The Turkish soldiers are to give up their arms and accoutre ments to the Russian posts, and under the orders of their commander are to march towards the Mainly Redoubt to await instructions for their further movements. The remittal of the above-mentioned articles by the Commis saries is to take place the day after the evacuation of the place. "Art. 2. The garrison of Kars surrendering prisoners of war, with the Commander-in-Chief of the Turkish army and all the military authorities, will leave the place with the honours of war, and deposit their arms, flags, &c., in a spot agreed upon previously, whence they will proceed to the destination indicated to them by the Russian Commander-in-Chief. As a testimonial of the valorous resistance made by the garrison of Kars the officers of all ranks are to keep their swords. " All the troops forming the garrison of Kars, except those actually in hospital from illness, are to leave the fortress in full uniform, with drums beating and colours flying, having first discharged their muskets, and are to assemble at 10 a.m. near the ruins of the village of Goumbet. They are to deploy in a single line, in columns, by battalions. Tho artillerymen are to form separate columns by regiments. The Redifs, Lazes, and Bashi-Bazouks are to form separately at half a verst distance from the other troops. The garrison are to pile their arms, flags, and accoutrements, and to form in the preesding order in front of the line of muskets. "The Mushir Commander-in-Chief of the army of Anatolia is then to wait upon the Russian Commander in Chief and hand him the muster-roll of his troops and a report of all the materiel stipulated in the act of sur render. Delegates of the Russian army will then call over the muster-roll and enregister the officers and men of the Turkish army, for which object the Turkish au thorities are called upon to present the registers of their respective commands. The enregistration finished, all the prisoners of war, headed by their officers, will pro ceed in columns to the bridge of Tchiftli-Kaya, where they will be met by the Russian troops appointed to serve as their escort. " The Turkish troops mentioned in the subjoined articles as having permission to return to their homes will take the Tainra-road, under an especial escort, and will halt for the night near the village of Kotanly ; they bind themselves to respect the inhabitants of that vil lage, and not to commit any excess. The column will continue its march the following day in the same order, and halt for the night at the village of Tosanly. On the third day, when they will have reached the foot of the Saganlong, the Russian troops will stop and the Turks continue their march across the chain of moun tains. In the direction of Erzeroum the Turks engage themselves not to enter the village of Bardours, occu pied by militiamen of the Russian camp. The Turkish stragglers who, within 24 hours of the last day's march, should not have crossed the Saganloug will be considered as prisoners of war. "Ie evacuating the town and fortress of Kars the military authorities of the Turkish army engage themselves to leave there a sufficient number of medical men and nurses to take care of the sick left in the hospitals until their recovery. " Art 3. The private property of members of the army of every rank is respected. " Each individual belonging to the personnel of the army is authorised to sell his property or take it away at his own cost of carriage. " Art. 4. The militia (Redifs, Bashi-Bazouks, and Lazes), their number having first been accurately ascer tained, will be allowed to return to their homes. " The Redifs, Bashi-Bazonke, and Lazes in hospital will have the same right under the same conditions, as soon as well enough to leave. "Art. 5. The non-combatants of the army, as scri veners, interpreters, nurses, are allowed to return to their homes as soon as their number has been accurately ascertained. " Art. 6. To General Williams is reserved tho right of designating at his choice in a list, which must be pre viously submitted to the approval of General Mouravieff, of a certain number of persons to whom permission will be given to return to their homes. " Military men, subjects of ono of the belligerent Powers, are excluded from this list. " Art. 7. All persons indicated in Articles 4,5, and 6, engage themselves by their word of honour not to bear arms against his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias during the whole duration of the present war. " Art. 8. The inhabitants of the town throw them selves upon the generosity of the Russian Government, which takes them under its protection. "Immediately the troops have given up their arms the inhabitants of the town are to send a deputation, consist ing of the principal inhabitants of the place, to give the keys to the Russian Commander-in-Chief, and to trust themselves unreservedly to the generosity of the august Sovereign of Russia. " Art. 9. The public monuments and buildings of the town belonging to the Government are to be respected and left intact. " It being the principle of the Russian Government to respect the customs and traditions of the people sub jected to its government, and especially the buildings devoted to worship, it will not allow any d a mage to be done to the religious monuments or historical ROLM airs of Kars. "Signed and approved by "W. S. WILLIAMS, MajonGeneral. " Colonel do KAUFMANN, Chief of the Military Chancery of the Commander in-Chief of the army of the Caucasus.' PRUSSIA. The following extract from a letter dated Berlin, Dec. 20th, published in the Emancipation Beige : " I can, moreover, inform you that the Mini sters of the King, as well as his Majesty himself, have just renewed their efforts at the Court of Rus sia, and their language is this time characterised by much firmness, and I have every reason to be lieve that the Czar will be touched by it. Our statesmen declare loudly that the war has been provoked by Russia without legitimate motives, and, the chances of war having been against him, there is a double reason for him to withdraw from it honourably. They add that Prussia will not abandon the system of neutrality she has adopted irrevocably, even though she saw the number of the enemies of Russia increase. "No one here now d ou bt s th a t Sweden will enter ac tively i rate the Weetern Alliance. It le even iidAtittecl THE BRAZILS. The Luso-Brazilian steamer Donna Maria 11. arrived at Lisbon on the 17th inst. She brought the usual mails, 95 passengers, and a small cargo. Her dates were—Rio de Janeiro, 20th Nov. ; Ba hia, 23d Nov. ; Pernambuco, 27th Nov. ; St. Vin cent, Bth Dec. ; Madeira, 14th Dec. At Rio were her Majesty's ships Madagascar and Trident ; the French ships Chasseur and Poursui vante ; and the American ship Savannah. The Tay reached Pernambuco on the afternoon of the 28th Nov. The Pampers) (s.) was at Bahia on the 25th Nov. The British ships St. Michael, Comet, and Albion were at Madeira. On the sth Dec. the Donna Maria 11. met the British ship Mocander, bound south. We learn from Rio that the transactions since the Tamar's departure wore small. The operations in coffee, however, had recommenced, and the sales hid amounted to 70,300 bags, the greater part being for exportation to the United States, in con sequence of which freights had risen, and there was a want of shipping. The imports of sugar had been small, and the sales merely for consumption. The cholera was considerably declining at Rio, and the mortality was almost reduced to the usual figure. At Campos it was also better, but its effects had been fearful ; the deaths had some days reached 90, and one day they numbered 107, out of a small population. Many acts of praiseworthy benevo lence were recorded in the Rio journals. At the instance of the imperial government, Lopez, the President of Paraguay, was about to despatch a plenipotentiary to Rio. It seems that the arrivals and departures of the Portuguese steamers have little influence on com mercial transactions, since by a short-sighted policy they are regulated so as to obtain cargo and passen gers, and not to favour the interests of the mer cantile community in general. In exchanges some 30,000/. were done at 27i at 60 days, and 27i at 90 days ; there was a little more firmness since the last packet, in consequence of the want of money. A few bills on Marseilles were done at 348 rs. per franc at 90 days ; and a bagatelle on Hamburg at 655 rs. at 90 days. Discounts were at 8 per cent. in the banks and 9 to 91 outside, with some tight ness. The rates were—London, 27i to if ; Paris, 358 to 360 at 60 days ; Lisbon, 98 to 100 per cent. at 60 days ; Hamburg, 655 to 660 at 90 days. Her Majesty's ship Inflexible had arrived at Pernambuco, having on board Viee-Ad m iral H o p e Johnstone, the commander on the South American station. e bad waited upon the president of the province, who had returned the visit on board the ship. The imports of sugars were much larger than was expected, the cause being the high prices ob tamable ; still prices of browns kept up, and 2 dols. 250 to 2 dols. 460 were being paid for low to good quality. Whites had declined. The exports from 19th Nov. to 26th inclusive were 1,402 tons, mak ing from Ist to 25th Nov., 3,545 tons. A large quantity had been shipped for the Channel. At Bahia a solemn Te Deum had been celebrated, followed by a procession, joined by all the civil and military authorities, in thanksgiving for the extinc tion of cholera. The exchanges were—London, 27; ; Paris, 350 to 360 ; Hamburg, 655 to 660. AUSTRALIA. We have received Sydney papers of tho 15th o: September. \Ve take the following from the Sydney Morning Herald of that date : "The Government gold 'escort arived this morning from the western fields, and delivered at the Colonial Treasury the following quantities of gold dust :—From Sofala, 5980 z. 9dwts. 6grs. ; Tambaroora, 188 oz. Gdwts.; Avisford, 4510 z. 10dwts. The total amount received was 1,2380 z. sdwts. 6grs. There have been rumours circulated in town to-day of the discovery of rich dig gings at Oakey Creek, on the Turon. "The amount .of gold dust imported into the Sydney branch of the Royal Mint during the week ending to day has been 2,003 ounces. The issue of sovereigns to day was 8,000. "The acts for granting duties of customs, and to alter the duty on colonial spirits, assented to by the Legisla tive Council yesterday evening, involve so many impor tant considerations that we shall trespass beyond our cus tomary space, and give the chief of their provisions in extcnso. The first act—that for granting duties of customs —repeals, in the first place, the acts of Council, 16th Vic. No. 7, and 18th Victoria, No. 24, except in so far such acts, or either of them, may have operated to re peal any former enactment. The second section pro vides that in lieu and instead of all duties of Customs heretofore levied upon goods, wares, and merchandise imported into the colony of New South Wales there shall be payable the several duties of Customs which have just been published. The third section enacts that all goods imported for the supply of her Majesty's ser vice shall be exempt from all duties and imposts of every description whatever ; and that nothing in this act contained shall be deemed to alter or repeal the provi sions of the act passed in the seventh year of her Ma jesty's reign, to authorise the issue of wine duty free to military officers. The fourth section enacts that it shall be lawful for the importer of any goods subject to any duty of Customs to warehouse such goods upon the first entry thereof, under the laws in force for the ware housing of goods, without payment of duty upon such first entry ; and all goods warehoused before the passing of this act, and which remain so warehoused before the passing of this act, shall be liable on entry for home consumption to the duties imposed by this act. The fifth section provides for the drawbacks upon the exportation of refined sugar made in this colony. Upon refined sugar having been duly clarified and thoroughly dried in the stove, and being of an uniform Whiteness throughout, the amount of drawback is fixed at 6s. Bd. Upon refined sugar, known as bastard sugar, the amount of drawback is fixed at ss. It is provided that such sugars respectively shall be shipped under the care of the proper officer of the Customs, in order that the shipment and exportation thereof may be duly certi fied on the debenture. The sixth section declares that the act shall be deemed to have come into operation on the 12th day of Sept. inst. The seventh section provides for the indemnity of the officers of Customs, and all other persons concerned in closing the offices of the Customs on the 12th and 13th inst., and refusing to t ransact t h e ordinary business thereof. The eighth section enacts that every person who shall, on or before the passing of this act, have made or entered into any contract or agree ment for the sale or delivery, free of duty, upon or at any time after such day, of any article whereupon any additional duty shall be payable under the provisions of this act, shall be at liberty to add to the price contracted for, so much money as will be equivalent to the addi tional duty which shall by reason o f suc h prov i s i ons have been paid or made payable on such article, and to sue for and recover the same against such purchaser. Provided that it shall be at the option of such purchaser, by notice in wetting under his hand, to be served on the other party to such contract, within two months after the passing of this act, to declare the contract null and void, and the same shall be null and void accordingly. " The act to alter the duty on colonial spirits, which was also assented to last evening, enacts that, in lieu of the duties now payable upon spirits distilled in the colony, there shall be paid upon such spirits, when made or distilled from sugar which shall have paid Customs' duties, for every gallon 6s. sd. Upon such spirits, when made or distilled wholly, or in any proportion exceeding 10 per c3nt. of the whole, from materials which are not subject to any duty of Customs, for every gallon 7s. The second section provides that nothing iu the act contained shall render liable to the payment of any duty as before mentioned any brandy which shall be dis tilled by any maker of wine for the purpose of and for fortifying the wines the produce of his own vineyard to the degree of strength authorised by the act of Council, 13th Victoria, No. 27. The third section enacts that the act shall be deemed to have come into operation on the 12th inst. The last section provides, as in the first act, that duties on spirits contracted for before th e pas sing of the act, and delivered after it, shall be paid by the purchaser, who may, however, within two months after the passing of the act declare the contract null and void. "The following is the return of duties collected for the Customs for the Port of Sydney on the 10th, 11th, and 14th inst., the Custom-house being closed on the 12th and 13th : S.: a. d. Brand 2 Gin,Br y 84 itish 1 79 15 2 3 Ditto, foreign Liqueurs and cordials . 3O 4 8 Whisky Rum, B. P 1,593 16 0 Wines Beer in wood 5 4 2 Ditto in bottle 1 10 6 Tobacco, manufactured B6 9 0 Cigars . 282 17 0 Tea 2,953 11 11 Sugar, raw 1,153 0 11 £7,987 9 8 " In our wool market we have to note far more brisk ness than we have been enabled to report during the last fortnight. On 'Thursday Messrs. Mort and Co. offered 186 bales, and the prices obtained were satisfactory. Sooured, le. 6d. to 2s. Icl., the latter high quotation being for a very fine sample of New Zealand wool scoured by Mr. Hays, of the Waterloo Mills ; superior clips are quoted at from ls. 4d. to ls. 61d.; fair to good, le. 2d. to ls. 41d.; low to middling, Is. to is. 2d.; handwashed, 11d. to Is. 4j.d. "In tallow hut few transactions havo occurred during the week. Mutton is quoted at 381. to 391. ; beef, at 361. to 381. In hides there has been inquiry for heavy and sound-conditioned samples • a parcel from the Clarence Riyer Ras bold at 3,0. DENMARK. We road in the Independance Beige, under date Hamburg, Dec. 21 : " Letters of the 19th received to-day from Copenhagen mention the probability of the conclusion between Den mark and the two Western Powers of a treaty based in a great measure on the principles of territorial guarantee, and containing the same reciprocal obligations stipulated in the treaty signed with Sweden. It is impossible to deny that the policy of the Scandinavian G overnmen t s , which had maintained during those two years of mari time war a system of strict neutrality, has been deeply modified, as respe c ts Russia, by the sig nature of a treaty of this description, in which it is generally believed at Stockholm that some secret clauses are inserted with regard to certain con tingencies likely to arise out of the war. For the pre sent it apps-ars positive that Sweden—and Denmark will necessarily follow the same lino of conduct—hasnot bound herself to participate actively in hostile operations against Russia ; but, should the war recommence in 1856, circumstances may occur which will render all further hesitation impossible on the part of Sweden. There is one fact, however, very clear—namely, that this,lastTower has!evineed, by signing that act, a marked preference for the Western policy, and that the old al liance between the three northern Powers, Russia, Sweden, and Denmark, is virtually at an end. The French corvette D'Assas, which returned with the Eng lish squadron to Elsinore, where she underwent some repairs, has sailed for France. During the last fort night agents of the Swedish Government purchased here a large quantity of dry tanned leather, which is said to be destined for her military armaments." SWEDEN. Vienna officieux writers (says a letter, dated Vienna, Dec. 20), in allusion to the late treaty, speak of Sweden having adopted the views of the allies of December with regard to the four points, and of her being prepared henceforth, like Austria, to give them her moral countenance and support. They speak further of a circular note having been addressed by the Swedish Government to its agents abroad, announcing its intention to take part in the solution of the one great complication, by ad hering to this() views. The following statements, extracted from the Swedish paper Norbotten's Posted, will be of inte rest. Advices from Haparanda (the frontier town between Sweden and Finland in the Gulf of Bothnia) mention a new regulation having been made known there with regard to fo reigners travelling into Finland ; in the early part of the year it had been ordered that any body who came to Finland from Sweden must remain there till the end of the summer ; the present order lays it down that those foreigners who henceforth visit Finland must remain there till the end of the war. From a Finland letter also, in the same paper, it is evident that every body there looks forward to Sweden's taking part In. the war, and expects that the common frontier would be entirely beset with troops. In Finland the iuhabita►,ts were never weary of circulating the most extraordinary reports about Sweden, each more extravagant than the other. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. Cape of Good Rope papers of the 27th October have come to hand. The South African Commer cial Advertiser of that date, writing of the condi tion of the colony, says— " Moderate expectations, then, and determined per severance, will characterise those governments that may be destined to claim the glory of civilising the barbarous tribes of Southern Africa. But the reward will be great at every stage of the process. The first step is to main• tain peat-. The next to administer justice. To con struct roads and open up markets, to shape canals and tanks for irrigation, and whatever induces men to culti vate the ground by regular labour, come in due order. Schools and churches, and all means of instruction and discipline for the young, of course no one will need to be reminded of. All these outward aids are within our power ; and if they aro all skilfully introduced and ex tended, without force or violence, all we pray for will succeed in the fixed order of nature, under the blessing of God." The same journal contains the following iatel Bence : " The latest Hong-Kong papers announce that the barque Julia had been laid on at that port for Algoa Bay. "The schooner Charlotte left Table Bay on Wednes day for East London ; the Lambert's Bay Packet, for Christina Bay ; the Eliza Carew, for Mauritius. The Arlequin left on Thursday for Swansea, with a cargo of Australian copper and wool. Yesterday the Plantagenet left for Mauritius. " The barque Concordia arrived in Table Bay on Thursday, from Newcastle, with a cargo of coals for this port. The ship Coromandel loft Simon's Bay on Wed nesday, for Liverpool. " Mails for England and St. Helena by the Meteor, f )1. Mauritius, by the Express, and for Batavia by the Maria Charlotte, close this day—the former at ten and the latter at twelve o'clock. " The mail for Algoa Bay and Port Natal, by her Majesty's steamer Hydra, closed yesterday at half-past one o'clock. She will, probably, leave Simon's Bay early this morning. Another mail for Natal is open by the new schooner Rosebud, which is expected to leave in about a week. " His Honour tho Lieutenant-Governor has directed it to be notified in the Gazette that the undermentioned lights will be exhibited on Flat Island and the coast of Mauritius from the Ist of December next :—A first-class revolving catoptric light on Flat Islands ; a first-class fixed catoptric light on Cannonier Point ; a red mast light on the left bank and at the mouth of Grand River; and a green mast light on Cooper's Island at the mouth of the harbour. " The municipality of Graham's Town have called for tenders from parties willing to erect stores on the Market-place for the reception of wool. "A meeting of the subscribers to the Cathcart Testi monial Fund was to have been held at Graham's Town on the 24th inst., for the purpose of receiving and de termining upon certain proposals which the committee would lay before them." THE PENINSULAR MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 25. Tho steam-ship Tagus, of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, J. Weeks, Commander, with the usual Peninsular mail, in charge of Lieut. J. B. Scriven, R.N., Admiralty agent, arrived this afternoon at 1 o'clock. - The - Tagus, during the voyage outwards, expe rienced to Vigo, for the most part, fine steady weather ; wind from north-westward. On entering Vigo strong gales from eastward. To Gibraltar, S.E. winds, and fine. Her dates of sailing were : Gibraltar Dec. 15 Oporto Dec. 20 Cadiz „ 16 Vigo Lisbon l9 - - Passengers—First-class, 15 ; second-class, 8 ; deck, 7. The freight of the Tagus consists of eight pack ages of specie, value 23871. ; 211 boxes of eggs, 26 casks of wine, 651 boxes of oranges, 39 bags of chestnuts, 100 barrels of grapes, 620 boxes of raisins, 771 packages of elephants' teeth, 10 cases of preserves, and 34 packages of sundries. Her Majesty's steamer Prometheus was at Gibraltar ; the ship of the line St. George, at Lisbon. GIBRALTAR, DEC, 15. His lordship the Bishop of Gibraltar and lady arrived at Malta on the oth inst., in the British Queen, steamer, which left our bay on the 30th ult. We learn that most of the passengers who unfortu nately lost their lives by the wreck of the Bravo, near the Gladia,ro Ever, belenged to company of actors, COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, DECEMBER 25. The dinner party yesterday included her Royal High ness the Princess Royal, his Serene Highness Prince Ernest of Leiningen, Colonel the Hon. James Lindsay, commanding officer Ist Battalion Grenadier Guards, and the Hon. Mary Seymour. The band of the Grenadier Guards played during dinner, and her Majesty's private band afterwards per formed in the Castle. Divine service was performed this morning in the private chapel of the Castle. The Queen and Prince, the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, Princesa Alice, Princess Helena, the Duchess of Kent, and Prince Ernest of Leiningen attended. The ladies and gentlemen of the Court and the do mestic household were also at the service. The Hon. and Very Rev, the Dean of Windsor offs dated, and administered the Holy Sacrament. Despatches from the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope were received yesterday at the Colonial•office. CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES. The Duke and Duchess of Richmond are surrounded by a family circle at Goodwood, Sussex. Their Serene Highnesses Prince and Princess of Saxe Weimar and the Karl and Countess of March aro of the circle. The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland have a large family party at Trentham, Staffordshire. The Duke and Duchess of Argyll, the Marquis and Marchioness of Stafford, the Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor, be side■ other members of the ducal house, are staying there. The Duke and Duchess of Bedford are receiving a select circle at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire. The Duke and Duchess of Cleveland are dispensing the hospitalities of the festive season at Raby Castle, Durham. The Duke and Duchess of Northumbirland are at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, with a select party. The Duke and Duchess have caused liberal benefactions to be distributed to the poor on the family estates in Northumberland and Yorkshire. The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury have a select party assenabled at Hatfield-house, Herts. The Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter are seeing company at Burghlerhouse, near Stamford. The Marquis of Lansdowne is entertaining a distin guished party at Bowood, Wilts. The noble marquis will receive company until the middle of next month. The Marchioness (Dowager) of Londonderry is sur rounded by a numerous family circle at Wynyard-park, near Stockton-on-Tees. The Earl and Countess of Clarendon have a select party at the Grove, near Watford, Herts. The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lady Theresa Lewis and Miss Lewis, and the Hon. Mrs. Villiers are staying with the noble Earl and Countess. The Earl and Countess Howe have a family party con gregated at Gopsall-hall, Leicestershire. As customary the noble Earl and Countess have caused the indigent poor on their estates to be relieved at this inclement season of the year. The Earl of Cardigan is surrounded by a large and distinguished party at Deene-park, near Kettering. The Earl Fitzwilliam has a large party, chiefly mem bers of his family, staying with his Lordship. On St. Thomas's-day the labourers on the Yorkshire estates, and also the poorer persons were bountifully relieved by the command of the noble Earl. Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston have a nume rous and distinguished circle at Broadlands, near Born say, Hants. Lord and Lady Ashburton are entertaining a select circle during the Christmas holydays at the Grange, Hants. Lord and Lady Stanley of Alder:ey are seeing com pany at Alderley-park, Cheshire. The Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, M.P., and Mrs. Herbert are receiving company at Wilton-house, near Salisbury. Sir Stephen Glynne has a large family party assembled at Hawarden Castle, Flintshire. The Right Hon. W. E. and Mrs. Gladstone are staying there. THE BOAR'S HEAD, AT QUEEN'S COLLEGE, OXFORD. The ancient custom of serving up a boar's head, " bedeck'd with bays and rosemary," and a large orange in its month, at this college, on Christmas day, was duly observed yesterday, and the spacious College Hall was crowded withl Oxonians and their town and county friends. The boar's head, which, borne on the shoulders of two servants, weighed upwards of seventy pounds, was announced by the sound of the trumpets, when the following song was chaunted : THE BOAR'S HEAD SONG. The boar's head in hand bear I, Bedcck'd with bays and rosemary, And I pray you, my masters, be merry, Quot estia in convivio. Chorus—Caput Apri defero, Reddens laudes Domino. The boar's head, as I understand, Is the bravest dish in all the land, When thus bedeck'd with a gay garland, Let us servire cantico. Chorus—Caput, &c. Our steward bath ordained this, In honor of the King of Bliss, Which on this day to be served is, In Reginensi Atrio. Chorus—Caput, &c. The Rev. T. Rennison taking the solo part, and cho- risters from Magdalen College singing the chorus, from the entrance of the hall to the high table, where a sump tuous dinner awaited the invited guests. This, we believe, is the only place whore the ancient custom of serving up a boar's head every Christmas day, with the original channt, is still observed. RAILWAY TRROTJGa EASTER MM.—Active measures are now being taken, with a view to the formation of a railwayltihne‘evmoßfueickxle sON , T Ferry.— North through rry. z EASTr t t .h h C a Bo r ,A.t i s c iBT h itom a r n as d fertile district of Easter Ross, from the port of Invergordon to Tain and e ti n re t g he aleeaoeftleaesatewt e ee f k se s e e t v l e a r nd al . wrecks have Mail hs ' o la T ov t oe s p t SCOTLAND.— s ewDraeue wrecked near takin l‘ g. t o e n thraorsben, harbour, w d a e all swamped h an , per , p a e n r i d s h foure d . m A e n d b r o e a w t, n e o d n , supposed a s u sT p i teonEscesed of fs v o 2bßse BELLS sr c sn, r r e w o CANTERBURY thesef some b obells s ra nc vesselgA foundered CATHEDßAL.—After anEnm erryßA r .p_ea peal on f sea. toenr Monday (Christmas-eve) evening, and the life and joy which they imparted were universal. The third and sixth bells, upon which the old c l oc k struck the quar ters, were broken by the continued blows upon two sides (on one side by the clapper, and the other by the ham mers), and these have been recast. The hanging of the peal of bells has been rearranged and the framework strengthened, as the walls of the tower were m uc h re duced in olden times to admit the 'bells —this has now been corrected. The peal, as of yore, now consists of sundry names 10 bells, the largest one being used only for th e c l oc k ol w d it r h in r g e e fe r r e e , n w ee h t o n se are e d i f m u m ne e r r a t l a s. lize lk d la in ny th o e f to the wer bob-majors and other surprising pe rformances, have long since passed away ; but a new tea m has been or ganized under the able direction of two of the survivors, Henry Ovenden, of St. Dunstan's ; and Mr. Austen, of St. Stephen's. The bells were rung again ye s terday (Christmas-day) before and after each service, and hence forward they will be rung upon the same occasions as is olden times.—Kentfili agzete, MR. SALT ON THE CURItENCY. The following additional letter has been Addressed by _ j 't Mr. Salt to the editor of the Tima Sir,—Again I have to say, think of the challengee you receive as well as those yon give. Mine runs thus : " What would have been the effect of the law corn pelling gold payments if the gold in California and Aus tralia had not been disco►ered ? If the delayed arri►al of a single vessel is a matter of public disquietude and danger, what would have been our condition under that law if no single vessel bad ever arri►ed The question is no longer mine ; the public have taken it up and made it theirs. From every mouth it is re peated, and the Times must answer in " plain, intelligi ble, straight-forward terms." It must defend or abandon its position, and in either case rest its honour on the triumph of truth. I have certainly answered the challenge of the Timm. I have explained the principle, if not the formula, of the legal tender note at as great length as my ♦ery low estimate of the public capacity for reading would per mit. I will do so still more explicitly at the risk of some repetition. If I first somewhat ramble, the fault, most respected Editor, is yours. You thwart me, arose my path, lead me astray, with your pleasant, mirthful, laugh ter-loving spirit. Thus, when I ask you for an argu- Ment, you fling a gambol ; when I expect a fact you bring forth a kitten and a mouse, a "ridiculus mug." A wilderness of monkeys would less trouble and perplex me than one wayward editor. Now, most elvish Editor, be it known to you that the inhabitants of these isles are not Papyrophagi ; they do not eat bank-notes as kittens eat mice, but they pay them away for food, and the note thus paid away passes from hand to hand, filling the hungry with good things, and not sending the rich empty away,—for ever exist ing, and for ever being caught by the same skill and in dustry that caught them first. Every one eats his cake, and still has it ; and so the world spins merrily round, though the fact be beyond your philosophy. The story of the note is a strange one. While it passed from hand to hand, each individual in its course parted with what he did not want, and got just what he did want, and, having it, deemed that he was paid exactly in the value ho wished to possess. This note, as far as each individual was conoorned, was paid at the moment he parted with it. Its promise was substantially realised, and the note passed on with out reproach, and when it returned was as welcome as ever. Thereon statesmen and theorists gathered together and discovered that the people eat, drank, and rejoiced delusively ; that the payment in the thing they waisted was a snare ; that the promise to pay meant payment in gold, which they did not want, and could neither eat, drink, nor use ; and, to insure this payment, they fixed the price of gold below the price of goods, bribing the foreigner to take it in preference to the products of English industry ; and so they got rid of the gold, and compelled the bank to swallow the paper, and then the people, worse off than the cat that had swallowed the mouse, looked round in vain for the note they had not swallowed. Thus industry was paralysed, robbed, and wrecked ; happiness and content changed for misery and discord ; the word of pro mise was kept to the ear, but broken to the heart ; every interest was injured, and theory—no, blundering igno• ranee triumphed. I mean no personal accusation, but that, " promise to pay," instead of a fixed value—a fixed quantity to which you so lovingly cling—is a Shylock bond, full of fraud and cruelty, and your defence of it a Shylock defence. That it is the bond is true, and one more iniquitous and fatal never existed. The attempt to carry it out has re peatedly filled the land with suffering and crime ; driven honest industry to despair, and lighted the terrific fires of " Swing" around us ; and still your call is for the " pound of flesh." The fraud of money—which is the measure of value— changing is essentially the same as that of changing the measures of size and weight, which the law punishes as in famous. Though Sir R. Peel was profoundly ignorant of the nature of money, I believe his intentions were pure — that his whole aim was to fix its value ; yet, in the face of the intention of the law and of all that is just, the Times claims quantity. If, then, tke value of gold had risen so that the value of an ounce of gold would have been equi valent to that of a diamond of that weight, the Times would still have stood by the bond. A dream of more rapacious iniquity never haunted Sbylock's brain, The 7 imes cannot, does not, mean what it says ; it has erred, writing hastily. Let it earnestly seek the truth, and, casting from it the farce of editorial infalli bility, honourably retract its errors. However, we have the bill. Let us see what it does for us. It compels the Bank to issue and withdraw its notes in proportion to the influx and efflux of gold. In the first case we have increased issues of money, increased bills at a date, increased confidence multiply ing the power of these issues by quickening their circu lation ; prices rise, speculation follows, and the Times oracularly declares trade to be in the soundest possible condition. The reaction never fails. The gold is ex• ported, the Bank issues are withdrawn, and the general alarm converts into stagnant that which was circulating money. With reduced money of reduced power we are called on to pay increased debts, then ruin comes, and again the Times declares we are coming to a sound state of things ; that nothing is so conducive to the general health as these clearances. It is dowDright savageness so to afflict a country. At any rate, the bill insures gold payments. What does that mean ? Why, that the merchant can go to the Bank and take gold, not as money, but as merchan• disc, at prices so fixed that it is a good speculation to export the basis of our currency, instead of our goods-- a wonderfully wise contrivance. They get their quantity, Mr. Editor, and we get the consequences. By the monopoly given to the Bank as sole issuer of legal tender it has power to charge unlimited usury, and of its inclinations we have present, though imperfect knowledge. It gives notice only of its minimumm rate of discount ; its maximum, is as profound a secret as the tortures of the Inquisition. Now, as to the benefit of having the power of claiming the payment of the legal tender note in gold, it is alto gether unascertained, but must be minute, as from the first issue of notes to the present time not only no one ever availed themselves of it, but whenever such pay ment is tendered, it is point blank refused. The banks in Birmingham from time to time have been gorged with gold, and have been unable to get their customers to take it, except for the convenience of small change. The run on the Bank of England in 1797 was for commercial profit and not for payment. The proof i■ that when the Bank stopped the people continued to take the note as payment. I do not, Sir, look mainly to the consequences of the war ; each subsequent year has brought fresh proof of error. Tho bills of 1819 and 1844 were attempts to bind modern commerce to the monetary system of ancient times, disregarding the fact that the changes in the last 50 years have been greater than in the previous ton cen turies. The discordance is too great to be tolerated. Our monetary system must he placed and maintained in harmony with the progress of commercial civilisation. With your gracious leave I will in a future letter show the principles and practice➢ of such a system. I am very respectfully yours, T. CLUTTON SALT. THE FRENCH TARIFF. (Front Ike Gazette of last Evening.) Board of Trade, Whitehall, Dec. 21. The Right Hon. the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Alrairs, a copy of a despatch from her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, trans• mitting an extract from the Jloniteur, containing the following modifications which have been made in the French tariff : IMPORT DUTIES. Almonds, in French vessels If., is foreign vessels, 3f. ; antimony, snlphurated, French lf., foreign 3f. German silver, nnwrought, French If., foreign 2f, ; bitumen fluid and tar derived from the distillation of coal, French, 5c., foreign, lf., per 100 kilos. Timber of allkindsfrom French colonies and from Senegal, free in both vessels. Wood in splits, French 100., hoopsticks French 10c., foreign 1f.50c., staves, French 10c., foreign lf. 50c., per 1,000 in number. Fir, pine, elm, and other common timber, unhewn squared with the axe, or sawn of more than 80 millimetres in thickness, French 5c., foreign 10c., per cubic metre ; sawn to 80 millimetres or less in thickness, except boards and planks of walnut, specially denominated, French 5c., foreign lf., per 100 metres in length. Twigs for brooms, prepared, French 50c., foreign sf. ; saffron flowers, from countries beyond Europe, French if., foreign 101. ; saffron flowers, from the Entrepets, French 6f., foreign 10f.„. slack lime and limestone, cal cined or broken, French lc., foreign lf. ; wax (not puri• fled), brown or yellow, French if per 100 kilos. Citrate of lime, French lc., foreign 5c., per kilo. Horns of animals (raw), French 10c., foreign lf., per 100 kilos. Spare, free in both vessels. Seeds for sowing—garden and flower seeds, madder and wend iced, thistle and cotton seed, French 10c., foreign lf. ; plumbago or black lead, French lf., foreign 3f. ; canes and reed., French 10f., foreign 201., per 100 kilos. Lemon juice— natural or concentrated to the strength of 33 deg. and lower, French le., foreign 5c., per kilo. Cork (rough), French 60c., foreign 5f , per 100 kilos. Boathook poles, of from 6to 11 c entimetres in thickness, inclusive, and pitchfork handles, and handles for tar brushes, free in both vessels. Chest. k nut and chestnut flour, French lf., fore i g n 3f., per 100 Poles and masts, free in both v essels. Mercur y , each; native or quicksilver, French I f. , fore ig n 5f., p er 100 i ,fepreeir.gnl63ol. kilos . ;French Walnuts, l il t d o o n s e . y ; n e d n c s e f French foreign 61. lOc., foreign m f p o rbel black a 3 n O d e s , panis n b l u a t c s k a , n French r t l s f : , r f r o e r n e c i g h n i f. 3 E nt F r r e e p o o c t h s, F lO r c e ., cfhnorsefilol. foreign ; do., 101. 10c., foreign lf. ; bones and hoofs of cattle, French 100 . , foreign if. Raw hi des of lar g e size, dri e d , by sea , from countries outof Europe, dried, by sea, froni ditto, dried , by land, of Eur opean origin, French, 10 f. , ditto, not dried, by sea, from countr i es ou t o f E urope . French - 10 c. ; ditto, not dri e d, b y sea , f rom con ti guo us coun tries, French 1 0c. ; sea dog ski n s, raw, fresh or dried, French 1 0 c., foreign 51.; lambs' skins, raw, fresh, or dried the (without wool), French 10c., foreign, lf. ; goatskins, raw, fresh or dried, and other raw skins of small size not otherwise named, French 10c., foreign If., per 100 kilos. Pigouilles, of from 11 to less than 15 centimetres of diameter inclusively, freo in both vessels. Quills (raw) for pens, French 10c., foreign 10f. ; ditto, raw, French, 10c., for e i gn If. ; ditt o , com bed in or assorted bundles, French, 10f., foreign, llf., per 100 kilos. Leeches, free in both vessels. Sarcocolla, kino, and other dried ve getable extracts, same duties as all exotic resins no t specially named. Bran, French, sc. ; Spanish broom/ raw or beaten, French, Oc, per 104 kilos. ~~ MO] COM Yesterd as a both Markets. On tho Mnount c standing securities. 4} per Cel Were risin Mobilier Shares of rose from Intellig from the the i m por State has first time upon arti( tion. Th some into Nina and son infrir tent prer lation at t spoke ope ritory, ra seek for e Accord increasing and the 1 Month of Ras great month, land, 32, however, times tba England, bushels. locoul state that and that the aupp Lees ho a great d lowest qu The C 2 oar, of g Which ari •mount previous] ries of a Turan. Bydney ending Si 401701'01g Some nev Passed at ble impoi duty on lieu of ti tilled in When ma been levi tirely or whole fr( charges ( Trade dc terial itn Wa* rath previous' and buys A fall Consols, exhibits lation, ia occasil any oth to an( The Neil the Rei 971. II Years' ) Barr 3 per C New 3 Long / Ditti Jetta 1 Ditt Consol E tcl PM Mextc, Ditl Pcruv Turkic Dit Pit Dit Ditt rep oho froi CAT R Be lv YI Et