The Sun. — London, England, 1855-12-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVE.NIr4G, DECEMBER 21, 1855 be it remembered, was no ordinary one. The Vicar, who is chief embodiment at Hackney of the principles of our "glorious constitution," demanded the fight, and has been completely vanquished. He appealed to the ordeal of parish combat, and has been put completely and for ever hers de combat. Not long ago he and his church wardens fought the parish and were beaten. Dis senters, we should say too generously, offered to subscribe more than their share of a regular Church Rate, but the Vicar, true to our " glori ous constitution," replied—" No ; the constitu tion knows nothing of voluntary contributions ; it provides for the ohurch repairs and expenses incidental to worship by Church Bates." Incon tinently he, or his, lays another rate ; they are reminded in vain of the former generous offers, one dissenter, Mr. S. MORLEY, offering not less than 50/. for the peace of the parish, nothing would do but a rate. The rate was proposed ; but the amendment refusing the rate, on the ground of the social evils of Church Rates, , was carried by an " immense majority." Nothing daunted Mr. GOODCH.ILD rushes to the poll, and there again he is beaten by a ma jority, as we have just mentioned, of two to one ! Alas for Hackney ! it is hopelessly gone to eccle siastical and constitutional perdition ; by the ♦irtue of other places it may yet enjoy for a time the blessings of our " matchless constitution in Church and State," but so surely as wisdom dwelt with Lord ELDON, and passed from him to Lord JOHN . RUSSELL, the days of the Monarchy and the Church are numbered, and the time im pends when Hackney with all England, the prey of Radicalism and Voluntaryism, and of course of Infidelity, will bewail the ruin which her rebellion accelerated. Some will think the GOOD-CHILD of the consti titution should have accepted the MORLEY COll - ; mean-souled reasoners ; the parish martyr fought not for paltry gold. Principle was everything. Church supremacy is the basis of our Constitution. That gone all is gone, as the great Whig Lord had taught him ; he deter mined on vestry immolation rather than recant his creed ;he has gained his object. In the dark ages to come persecuted dominant Churchmen, obliged by gross oppression to pay their own ex penses, will resort to his shrine as to one of the glorious hand who defended to the last the claim of his Church to wash its surplices, cleanse its interior, and drink its consecrated wine at the cost of Dissenters. Perhaps the most melan choly part of the story is, that Churchmen con tributed largely to this breach in the Consti tution. Mr. GOODCHILD realises the sadly beau tiful figure of WALLER and Lord BYRON ; the dying eagle lies stretched upon the plain, grieving most to see that his own feathers had winged the arrow which had pierced his breast. Keen, no doubt, are Mr. GOODCHILD'S pangs to be beaten by sour Dissenters, but keener far to feel that the subscribers to Hackney District Churches— Churchmen as they should be—refused to pay for the dear old parish church because—base Dis senting argument !—they do not use it ! and because they paid for what they did use ! Speaking of the vainly proffered MORLEY con cordat, we are reminded of the similarity of our ecclesiastical magnates at home to their unique compeer of Rome. It is hardly for our Bishops here, or our Statesmen in their line, to rail at the POPE for getting a concordat with the civil power, and at the Government of Austria for conceding it. So far as principle is concerned the same thing is enacted here over and over again. What, indeed, must any State Church be but a great Concordat ?—a bargain be tween the ecclesiastical and civil powers as to how power shall be divided between them. The terms of the Concordat depend, as in France and Austria, upon what each people will bear. That England will bear a good deal, the Bench of Bishops in the House of Lord- , , the high rank claimed by an Archbishop, the almost exclusive appropriation of endowments and pecuniary privileges, certainly not worth less than 5,000,000/. per annum, and esti mated by other good authorities at 10,000,0001., and the claim to exclusive recognition in State appointments, are proof enough. If the Austrian Concordat has secured civil advantages far above the English ono with its own Hierarchy, it is ques tionable whether the POPE would not prefer a concordat which would put 5,000,0001. of the sinews of war into his hands, especially with all the civil addenda. We incline therefore to think our Hierarchy has got a concordat on which that of Austria may well look with envy. Our Bishops, too, seem very fond of driving some nice little sub concordats. The burial grounds for instance. Everywhere the Right Reverend Fathers work their negative power of refusing consecration, to get up fees for the church to the highest point, and to insist on some barrier better than the gravel path, preferred by the laity, between the profane corpses of Dissenters and the holy corruption of Churchmen. Iron rails, walls two feet or four feet high in different places, divers chapels or bells even, are me mentoes of the Episcopal concordats with the re luctant civil authorities. Reformed municipal corporations, too, boar the fetters of an Episcopal concordat. "Tobe or not to be " was the question once ; before the Bench would allow them to be ; it required that every Dissenter should solemnly repudiate any intention to injure their Lordships' Church ! The Dissenter could not be trusted to manage police, sewers, and borough improvements except he worked munici pally in State Church handcuffs ! This not being quite sufficient, the burgesses were also prohibited from attending in their official capacity any place of worship but the Established Church. We think all these Episcopal concordats injurious to the Church itself, but at least their defenders have but little right to cast a stone at Austria and the POPE. " Natural death by the visitation of GOD." The verdict, good Christian people, who are about to celebrate in all joyousness the advent of Him who came to preach glad tidings to the poor—the verdict of an intelligent jury, sitting in solemn inquest, in Bethnal-green, yesterday, over the e emaciated g ofbodiesm e o t t h ' e r three d poorshe a c w h i i d l e d w r e , n w , h t e h s e e united have ages died fel of lshort s o ta f rv fo a u ti r e t n. fourteen years, and were said to Ugh I how one shudders to read it. "Natural death by the visitation of"—no, it is not good eeatteftltiheestareargeded;Ohradvieg in such a connection. such a d enouemen t The re p p l is very simple, and will take but little telling. Two Christmases ago a cabman might be seen at his accustomed stand, cheerily contending with the cold under the inspiration of a w if e and family to support at home. Before another Christmas came round the cold was too many for him, and ho died of inflammation. A widow and three "fine, plump, rosy•coloured children" sus tained a great and irreparable loss. The mother, an industrious woman, who took pride in her children and " behaved kindly to them," was a little at fault as to how they should be fed ; but, casting away foolish pride, applied before long to the overseer. What was to be done ? Tho woman laboured as mothers will labour for their child ren, and with all her labour she couldn't support I them. Nothing could be said against her. Let her have two quarterns and a-half of bread a-week and fifteenpence of the current coin of the realm ! Perhaps this was little for a mother and three fine, plump, rosy-coloured children. The widow thought so, and the mother worked the harder. But women's work don't fetch much, and the rosy cheeks grew pale, the laughing eyes anxious, and the plumpness evanished. The mother still went on working ; and the sallow cheeks grow haggard, the anxious eyes furtive, and nothing of the three fine, plump children was to be seen but three anatomies. And to see them could not have been pleasant. The poor famished wretches were always on the hunt—now it was along the gutter after a herring head or potato peelings, and now on the pavement under the folds of a tablecloth in quest of crumbs. Human nature, however small the specimen, will be found to bear a great deal, but it can't go on in this sort of way long. The parish gave the poor, sober, industrious, heart-broken mother a little more, but it would seem to have been given too late. Disease, what ever be its parentage, is Gon's minister, and not seldom carries a message of mercy. It came to the succour of the poor anatomies, and notwithstanding every medical appliance all three died of inflammation of the lungs or low fever. Two of the three little anatomies stretched out cold in one room beneath a bereaved mother's gaze was too much for the silly kind hearted neighbours, and it became necessary to have an inquest. Twelve men assembled, and under the presidency and direction of a Coroner • returned the verdict to which we have drawn attention. The men meant well, no doubt, and gave just the sort of verdict honest men may give when barutoo.l.l. Ono or two of the questions asked lend a colouring to this view. The father died of inflammation, and the children died of inflam mation. The father's death was natural ; the children's must have been natural also. The doctor did his best, and the parish produced what he required for their aid as they lay on the bed of death. Nobody was to blame—verdict accord ingly. Poor victims of hereditary taint ! Was their father emaciated by hunger and starva tion when inflammation set in ? Had he low fever—that damning tell-tale---when the doctor's assistance was called for. Hereditary taint ! The children were worth a fortune to a boarding establishment when the father died— plump, rosy-cheeked little creatures, and see how the hard world used them—or rather the parish let them wear away in health and strength till low fever mercifully called inflammation in to finish the work it had begun, and their souls passed away to the common Father of all ! " Natural death !" Driven to extremity couldn't they have returned a ♦erdict of " Died from the cessa tion of pulsation," or " Died for want of breath !" It is a sad story, one that might give a stout man the heartache, and none the less tragic for the privations endured by so many children in the neighbourhood. The weather just now is bitter cold—how much colder than the Coroner's heart? Glance over the report, reader, and guess. Let the parish rejoice in him ! THE COURT. SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY, 11 A.M. Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by his Royal Highness Prince Albert and suite, has just landed at the docks, from on board the Royal yacht Fairy, and proceeded per railway to Windsor. LATEST NEWS, Advices from St. Petersburg state that the main force at Odessa will be removed to Nicolaieif. The Czar has ordered a concentration of forces on all the strong positions of the Black Sea and, the Baltic. It is reported that Prince Paskiewitch is dead. It is stated that the Emperor of Russia has written to the King of Prussia, stating that, if ho wished, ho could not agree to the demands of the Western Powers, the nature of which ho was per fectly familiar with, although they had not reached him in an official form. BERLIN, DEC. 19. The Swedish Ambassador at Vienna has for mally announced to the, Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs, that his Cabinet adheres to the views of the 'Western Powers in regard to the four points of guarantee. It is said that Count Stackelberg brought pro posals of peace to Vienna from St. Petersburg, somewhat different from those agreed on by Aus tria and the allies. The subject of the Principalities is reported to be finally adjourned, and Count Coroniui is con sequently to resume the command there. that seemed to render the traditional policy of the empire impracticable for many years to come. ' They must receive still more bitter lessons before the growing intelligence of the country than by main taining an obstinate resistance against all improvement. The whole object of " Mercator's" letter is to divert. the attention of the public from practical truthsto abstract theories, which he well knows are always more difficult of i refutation. We do not intend to bee thwn dra from th course we have marked out by any h artifices I , how e - ever skilfully the temptation may be p "Mercator" resented to us. We shall be perfectly satisfied in tying down to his "promise to pay," if that is the basis upon which F thankful for any cause that may avert what we he would raise his superstructure of paper currency .; but let us have no sh ufflin g about it—let us have th a cannot help thinking would prove alike disastrous security equal to the promise, and if that cannot be fu 1- and disreputable for the country. filled it is high time that we should set about the dis covery of a more rational system. " the pear is ripe," and any peace that promises • to be durable and permanent, can be concluded. We accept the conclusion with gratitude, truly More than a week since, in our impression of the 13th instant, we said "Mr. SALT is not the man to be put down by sneers and sickly attempts at wit !" Our columns this day supply abundant corroboration of the assertion. Two letters from Mr. SALT will be found, in addition to the admi rable one which has called forth the ponderous aim at wit of the bullionist organ, and which we re peat this day, as it cannot be too strongly im pressed on the minds, not only of Monetary Reformers, but of every disinterested and unpre judiced man throughout the length and breadth of the land. Mr. SALT has fairly grappled with the Leviathan, and has, so far as the space at his dis posal would permit, given a masterly exposition of the all-important subject. He has exhibited far more searching interrogatories to the mouth piece of the " JONES LOYD" school than the stereotyped ones, " What is a pound ?" or what is the meaning of the words " I promise to pay!" To these questions he has required "a clear, fair, and specific answer, and not merely wit or literary banter !" How that demand has been complied with will be seen from the article of the Times, which we place in juxtaposition with the letters to which it purports to reply. The con ditions of the discussion are therefore before the public. The issue is fairly raised, and there can be but little doubt or difficulty as to the nature of the verdict that must be returned. Just published, in Bvo., price to the Trade 55., FOURTEENTH and FIFTEENTH ANNU. AL REPORTS of the REGISTRAR-GENERAL of RIR' DEATHS, and MARRIAGES, in ENGLAND. - - - - • London : Published for H. M. Stationery Office by Messrs. Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans. Of whom the previoug REPORTS (from the FIRST to the THIRTEENTH incia9ive) may still be had. Some six or seven weeks since, the Times thought differently on the meaning of the words " I promise to pay." On the 26th October last, in speaking of " the paper circulation of the coun try," it said, " Supposing this circulation to be required solely for internal commerce, no neces sity could exist for gold being held against any portion of it. A deposit of Government Stock, or the fact of its being receivable for duties, would at all times keep it from fluctuation in value !" Here, then, is the answer supplied by itself to its later challenge as to " the formula for the Bank note, or legal tender money." Mr. SALT, in conamon with every Monetary Reformer, does not require or suppose that "the legal tender money" shall be available for foreign trade save to this extent, that the possessor of it can always obtain bullion at its fair market value, proper tiosed to the demand and supply thereof, with which to liquidate any obligations which he may have contracted to the merchants of other countries. With similar instruments, not only was that bullion obtained from 179 i to 1819, or rather to 1822, but the expenses of the most onerous war in which the nation was ever engaged, were sustained until the contest was carried to a triumphant conclusion. The power of carrying on our foreign trade, and that under the most unfavourable circumstances, has, therefore, borne the test of a quarter of a century's experience, and, after passing trium phantly through so stringent an ordeal, cannot now be impugned. We want "legal tender money," or rather the measure and representa tive of value, solely for domestic purposes ; or, to adopt the ipsissima verbs of the Times, " for internal commerce !" "No necessity can, there fore, exist for gold being held against any portion of it !" This is the legitimate, the irresistible con elusion which the bullionist champion draws from the premises laid down by itself, and supplies the answer to its sneers about " the fortunate possessor who is to be a always eating his cake, and nevertheless ha v i ng it. The man who is so happy as to receive such a note cannot spend it one day on a dinner, the next day on a coat, the next day in wages, the next day in paying an old debt," and find it there still. Should he venture on such an experiment, he will not, after the first trial, be much tor mented with any questions respecting its conver tibility, or whether so many golden sovereigns can be obtained in exchange. All his right, title, interest, and possession therein will have de parted at once and for ever. It may have pro vided him with a dinner. The next owner can obtain a coat, and the tailor pay wages therewith ; but a single owner can only put it to a single use. It will, in fact, discharge exactly the same functions as a Bank of England note of similar amount, save that it will only be cancelled when it has found its way back to the Exchequer in payment of duties or taxes. Supposing that the amount of the National Revenue be taken at sixty-five millions per annum, there will be a constant weekly demand for these notes or legal tender money to the extent of one million and a quarter. They will then be cancelled, and others issued to a similar amount under the authority of Par liament. The wants and exigencies of the nation will thus be supplied, and there wilt be no want of an adequate circu lating medium, maintaining its fair average value; " the life-blood of industry " will be sup plied, but the fever heat of wild and rash specu lation and the languid pulse of monetary inaction will alike be averted. The legal tender money proposed by the Mone tary Reformers will be far better than a note merely based on a deposit of Government Stock. The entice wealth of the nation will afford the guarantee for its value. h will possess a double guarantee, that whiehrenders Consols an unques tionable security, and that which makes Ex p ol l t an e i qu e e d r , Bills valuable ; for, as we h ave already explained, it will virtually be neither more nor less than an " Exchequer Bill" of convenient amount, ao as to meet the purposes of every-day life. Give us truly national notes of 11., 21., and 31. each, an d the great desideratum will be accomplished, for there can be no run upon a National Note, whi c h is the present bugbear with Bankers. H Lord JOHN RUSSELL be right the Crown and the House of Lords and all our aristocratical in stitutions are seriously menaced. The most pre cious parts of our constitution, those which exist for the welfare of the few and the fleecing of the many, depend on the maintenance of Church Rates ; and Church Rates depend on the fickle and misguided multitude ; and the multitude is everywhere beating down this main prop of all that Whigs hold sacred. All over the country, as we learn from the provincial press, Church Rates are either defeated in the face of parsons, squires, magistrates, and the wealthy shop keepers and cotton-spinners who live in suburbs ; or they are carried here and there by victories more damaging to the conquerors than to the conquered. The last battle of this kind has just been fought at Hackney. Here those whom Lord JOHN RUSSELL regards as the upholders of our " glorious consti tution " were thoroughly threshed. They were bea t e n b y a majority o f two tc one. We may imagine the dismay at Chesham-place ! This victory of tile anarchists and revolutionists, MADAME JENNY GOLDSCIIMIDT-LE iD. EXETER-HALL. —On THURSDAY EVENING next, December 27, 1855, Haydn's Oratorio of THE CREATION ss ill be repeated. Principal Singers—Madame Goldschraidt, Mr. L 4 )ckey, and Mr. Lawler. Handel's Oratorio of THE MESSIAH will be produced on MON DAY Evening, Dec. 31, in which Madame Goldschmldt will d mg the principal • oprano part. The Chorus and Orchestra will consist of more than GOO performers. Conductor, M. Benedict. Prices of admission. —Stalls (:Cumbered and Reserved ), One Guinea ; Uunreserred Seats (Body of the Hall), 10s. Gd. ; We •st Gal lery, 10s. Vd.; 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 Mr. Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street. Due no ice will be given of the first Miscellaneous Concert. MR. W. S. WOODIN'S OLIO of ODDITIES, illustrated by 50 instantaneous Metamorphoses of Voice, Character, and Costume, and a moving Panorama of the beautiful Lakes of Westmoreland and Cumberland, every evening, at S. A. representation of the celebrated tragedienne, Mlle. Rachel, as Camille in Lm boraces, with other new features, have been added t.o the above entertainment. During the Christmas Holidays Mr. W. S. Woodin will give two morning performances only—Saturday. Dec. 29, and saturday, Jan. s.—Polygraphic-hall, King William-street, C h ar cross . THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Under the Management of Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENDM, Will be performed THE MAN OF MANY FRIENDA. Princi pal characters by Messro. Buck•tone, Compton, W. Farrell, Howe, Mkses Reynolds and Chaplin, and Mrs. Poynter. Followed by THE LITTLE TREASURE. To concln le with A DAUGHITER TO MARRY. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHT. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directresi, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, Will be performed T IRTUFFE. The principal characters by Messrs. B. Webster, C. Selby, Moreland, Garden; Mrs. Keel?y, Miss M. Kee!ey, and 3ltne. Celeste. After which, BETSY BAKER. To conclude with TWICE KILLED. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. THIS EVENING, Will be performed THE JEALOUS WIFE (compressed into three acts)... Followed £5 REWARD. To conclude with CATCHING A MERNIAID. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. J. 11. Anderson, IS, Norfolk-street, Strand, lASI' FEW DAYS. Increased Attractions, and success in equal ratio? THIS, AND EVERY EVENING, at Eight o'Clock, Will he presented, with entirely New and Nfagnificent Inooint ments, SIAGIC and NIYAT EltY, in twelve acts, arranv 1 in t parts, by Professor Anderson. After which, the startling illustrations of Spirit-Rapping. AN-TIOUR TILE SPRIT:, being the most surprising ant interesting series of experiments ever given within the walls of any theatre. Revival, in an improved form, of the astounAinr novelty which tartled London 10 years ago, the GREAT GUN TRICK ! Prices of a imission : —Private [loxes, 17,. 119. Gl. an 1 11. Is. ; Orchestra Stalls, As. ; Dress Boxes, 3s. ; Upoor ttoxes, 2i. ; Pit, s. ; Gallery, 6,1. No Half-price. Rox-office open from II to 5 daily. Grand Nforninz Performance on Saturday Next at Two o'Clock. Doors open at Half-past One. ASTLErS ROYAL AMPIIITIIF:ATBE Lessee and Manager, Mr. Wm. Coke. Imme•is: success of ROOkIIrOOd ! This spirited and excitin; Hippolrome (with Turpin's Ride to Turk) embraces the principal events of Ainsworth's Rookwood. THIS EVENING, The successful Equidrame oiled TURPIN'A RIDE to YORK ; or, the lleir of Rookwood. - After which the Varied Equestrian ACTS to the CIRCLE. To conclude with TINE FOLIE POUR EIRE ; or, Mirth-Ifovin4 Entertainment. Immense preparations are makin; for the Christmas Comm Pan tomime, written by Mr. Nelson Lee, called Harlequin an I St George and the Dragon, or the Seven Champions of Christendom. 'arm-office open from Eleven till Four. Ate4e Sianaser, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, 1 1 W. flookr. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY—Morn. 0 min. aft. 0 —Evoning 14 min. aft 12 To-Moßßow—Morn.33 min. aft.l2 —Evening 4 mia aft. 1 THE WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, Dec 21. THERUMETER, IN THF, SHADE. 34 highest since noon yesteraay. 24 —lowest this morning and. daring the night. 23—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 99 . 81—falling fast. VITNL, E.s.E.—Fresb, with cold, dull, hazy weather. We are likely to have a fall of snow. fr t tiri% 4, C vn LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1855. It is positively asserted that " the Czar has written to the King of PRUSSIA to the effect that, even if ho wished, he could not agree to the de mands of the Western Powers, the nature of which he was perfectly familiar with, although they have not yet reached him in an official form." Such a proceeding is by no means improbable. It would be the natural result of the letter which FREDERICK WILLIAM was report el to have despatched to his nephew some weeks since, imploring him to accept the interpretation given by the Allies io the Third Point. There is therefor© a verisimili tude about the statement that induces us to lend it au easy credence. It may, perhaps, be regarded as " too good news to be true" that the Western Powers should escape being fixed by the too easy conditions to which they had been induced to yield a reluctant assent, and which would leave many of the objectA of the War into which they had been forced, and for which they had made so many sacrifices of men and money, unaccomplished. It seems, indeed, hard to suppose that ALEXANDER should be insensible to the difficulties and dangers of the position in which he is placed, or that Aus tria should become a party to any propositions which he would not be glad to accept. But there is a state of things revealed in the brief but very significant announcement that adds credibility thereto. The CZAR seems to be perfectly well aware of the state of affairs at Vienna, and the subject of the discussions between the Minister of Austria and the Representatives of France and England. He shows that he might personally have been willing to make the required concession, but that be "could not," or, in other words, "dare not," do so. He stands too much in awe of his turbulent and ambitious brother and the old Muscovite or War party, of which the Grand Duke CONSTANTINE 18 the recognised leader. His compliance might possibly be the signal for his deposition, or for something even worse, and the substit u ti on of one committed heart and soul to the War. There are influences affeoting the minds of those entrusted with absolute and arbitrary power which c annot enter into the calculations of ordinary individuals. There is no such thing as actual irresponsibility. If a party cannot be made accountable in one mode he must in another, and the man for whom there is no legal check or restraint, will dread conspira cies, and tremble at the slightest hint of a revolu tion. The Russians are not am yet sufficiently humi liated. Great as have been the reverses and losses th e y have sustained, the pride and vanity that induced them to aim at universal empire, to establish Cossack domination throughout Europa and Asia and part of Africa, is still unsubdued. The great mass of the people are still kept pro foundly ignorant of the true state of affairs, and would, therefore, not understand the urgent ne cek6ity that compelled the agreement to terms TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—My attention having been called to the report in the Daily News and Morning Post, of the 17th inst., of the trial a cause of "Pew v. Rosenthal," wherein the plaintiff said—" She had been introduced to a Mr. De Mattos and his wife, but had afterwards been told by the defendant that Mr. De Matto% only kept the lady whom he represented to be his wife ;" and having been informed that, in consequence of the name of "De Mattos" being uncommon, it had been supposed that I was the Mr. De Mattos alluded to, I beg to state that I am not the Mr. De Mattos in question, and that he is no relation or ac quaintance of mine.—l am, &c., W. N. DE MATTOS. Weetow-hill, Upper Norwood, Dec. 20, 1855. " Viscount Canning," says the Malta Times, " arrived here on the 7th from Marseilles in the Caradoe, accom panied by Lady Canning, Lord de Burgh, Captain Bouverie, and Dr. Leckie, and left the next day for Alexandria. His lordship will spend a few weeks in Egypt before proceeding to the seat of his future government." Tax MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, Thursday. —The Penin sular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Alma, Capt. C. F. Burney, left this day, with the East India and China mail ; a full cargo, being upwards of 504 tons, 82 pas sengers, and specie for Alexandria to the amount of 10,6491. ; India, 364,7841. Amongst the passengers by the Alma are Captain and Mrs. Weston, Dr. and Mrs. Rimmington, for Bombay ; Drs. Walker, Anderson, Cowan, and Fox, for Calcutta ; Major and Mrs. Burton, for Madras ; lirnael Pacha and friend, for Alexandria. THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS.—LIVERPOOL, Thursday.— The Royal mail ship Earl of Sefton, Capt. Noble, of the White Star line of Australian packets, cleared to-day, and will sail to-morrow forenoon for Melbourne, with the usual mails for the Australian colonies, about 180 passengers, and one of the most valuable cargoes which ever left the Mersey in one vessel on freight, being com posed almost entirely of fine goods. She should have gone to sea to-day, but the state of the tide, and the heavy swell in the river, owing to the easterly gales which prevailed yesterday and to-day, prevented her leaving the docks. Tisis DEBT OF PORTUGAL.—In regard to this debt it is understood that negotiations are still in progress with the accredited agents of that country for the purpose of restoring to the bondholders, as far as may he practicable those rights which the Government violated by the de cree of 1852. A disposition being thus evinced by Por tugal to act justly towards her creditors, it is stated that they, in return, are desirous to promote her credit, and most probably to assist in carrying out the railway p'ans which are essential to her progress and the increase of her revenue. If the present propositions should be concluded, the creditors will, it is stated, forthwith me morialise the Committee of the Stock-Exchange to allow Portuguese securities to be again quoted in their official list. BULLION IN THE BANK OF ENGLAND.—The demand for money at the Bank of England is heavy, but scarcely more so than was anticipated for the close of the year. According to the last return the bullion was only 150,000/. less than in October, when they resolved upon their existing rates, and, as the additional note issue of 475,000/. just authorised will enable them to dispense with a corresponding amount of gold without leaving them in a worse position, as far as their power of accom modating the public is concerned, than they were in at that period, there is no reason to presume that the pre• sent requirements upon them are such as to call for any immediate check. With regard to the future, the ap proaching termination of the payments on the Turkish Loan is a favourable feature, and, although the absorp tion of specie on the Continent may be resumed, con siderable supplies can be looked for to enable us to meet it. From Mexico a very large sum is due, fresh arrivals from Australia are now to be expected at any time, and according to the last advises from New York , it is n ot unlikely that the next steamer or the succeeding o nes may bring us some amounts from that city. At a meeting of the Canada Company held yesterday, Mr. C. Franks presiding, the dividend declared was £7 per share, free from income-tax ; and the statement was received as satisfactory. It was intimated that the di rectors, after due consideration, have determined to dis tribute the amount of assets which may come into their hands each half-year, making a limited reserve to cover liabilities ; and with this view, as there is some doubt of its being in exact accordance with the charter, they have been authorised to apply to Parliament for a sf eclat act. With regard to the present payment, the chairman informed the proprietors, to prevent future disappoint ment, that it was not probable it could be maintained, a sum of .£40,000 included in.the total now available hav ing been money out at interest as an investment. In answer to a question it was mentioned that the income tax will be paid on the whole amount distributed, since, although a portion may be considered in some respects a repayment of capital, ample assets still remain to re present the original outlay. If at a future date circum stances arise for rendering a winding-up desirable, the directors then, if the impost shall be in force, will take the necessary measures to protest against any charge upon what may be considered a return of capital as dis tinauished from realised profits. A question having been mooted on a previous occasion with respect to voting, the opinion of Mr. R. Palmer has been obtained, and be states that according to the terms of the charter the pos session el five shares entitles the holder to ono vote, 10 two votes, 20 three votes, and 25 or upwards four votes, six months' qualification being required. Individuals holding less than five shares may attend the meetings aud speak, but not vote. THE BRITISH EXPEDITION. (From, Special B C A or s res T i o v r ad o i L zet , of s , t i cte u ff it /Ln y n , i g D H E c e .) . 8. When will a blow be struck ? When will the Muscovites give us the opportunity ? We are told in history that even cite rapid Bosphorus, through out its 16 miles in length, has been fully frozen over no loss than seven times. And now it is more than hinted that as soon as the Tchernaya be frozen (and this may not prove the case) Gortschakoff intends to throw his troops across and to at tack the allies. In the meantime the allies do not attack Gortschakoff. They do not fire a single gun against the works on the north side. But the north side fires daily upon the south ; and although, as I have frequently said, with little effect, I am now sorry to add that in one day during the pre sent week we had a private of the 18th killed and four wounded, English, while cooking near the dock ; and on the other side of the Arsenal Creek one Frenchman killed, and also an ox. So that there is even yet some danger in. "seeing the lions" at Sebastopol. During the fete of St. Barbo, lam happy to record, we did not lose a single man. Had a shell fallen among even one of the many military re-unions gathered together on that night, the enemy might have made a grand coup. But Providence watched over the Artilleurs Francais. Some of their brothers in arms were not so fortu nate, for a colonel and four captains out shooting near the Tchernaya, and somewhat too eager in the pursuit of sport, were surrounded by Cossacks and taken prisoners, dogs and all. Shooting is an amusement that cannot be indulged in every clay, for the weather is now very unsettled and variable. As to gales and rain, the winter has certainly set in this year more fiercely than did the winter of 1854, and at this moment the valley of Inkorinan resembles a lake, while our roads are linee•deep in mud in many places, and parts of the plateau and plain perfectly like a swamp, and impas sable. The sudden changes to which the climate of the Crimea is liable tell very much upon strangers, and I am sorry to announce that on Thursday there were two cases of cholera in the 92d regiment. You will remember that the 92d did not arrive in the Crimea till after the capture of the Malakhoff, so that they cannot here be yet considered acclimatised. People are in some parts of the camp suffering a good deal from boils on the chest, which are attributed to the water, never good, having become much worse since the rains set in. Our medical officers are on the alert and watching the men most anxiously, so that, come what illness there may, it is reasonable to presume that with our increased comforts, and experience, and huts we shall not again have to deplore the loss of so many of our fine fellows. The medical officers in the Crimea are now get ting up a subscription for a general monument in memory of all of their own profession who had died on duty during the campaign. This will pro bably be erected at Chatham. Our medical me❑ here are watching each Gazette in the hope of see ing therein a brevet promotion, believing that their recent memorial and the " pressure from without" have at last induced the Government to look more favourably on their position and to recognise their claims. Although for the greater part of the week we have suffered from rain and hail and high winds, Monday was fine enough to admit of a steeplechase coming off near the Monastery ; Tuesday found all the French celebrating the Feast of St. Barbe ; on Wednesday morning a very strong rumour was current within Sebastopol that the Docks were on that very day to bo blown up, in which we wore unfortunately disappointed, owing perhaps to the very bad weather ; and on Wednesday also at Balaklava the " great passport question" came off at the Commandant's, and I among scores of others got thoroughly drenched in riding across the country to receive my new papers. On Thurs day morning before dawn we experienced another storm, which blew down one of the huts of the 92d and some others ; and then yesterday (Friday) we had again a sunshiny summer's day, fires in our tents and huts were unnecessary, and people took their meals with open doors. I may repeat that these great changes affect all of us more or less ; and they cannot but do so, for it is not at all un common to experience in 24 hours specimens both of spring, summer, autumn, and winter weather. Those who are here watching barometers and ther mometers day after day will have very curious in formation for our literati by and bye. Having ridden across to Balaklava to take up my new passport, or rather p erm i s d e s ej our , a t the Commandant's office, opposite the Main Guard, I was astonished to find that my number therein was as high as 1042. These " tickets of residence" contain the name, occupation, and residence of the applicant, and are dated in the present month and signed by the Captain Superintendent. There are some of our population here who are better known than trusted. Accordingly, instead of presenting themselves at the office, these worthies have sent in some friend to personate them, and to leave such passport as they might have been able at Athens or Constantinople, or Smyrna to procure. Calling next day to receive the passport and permis, many, on their names being asked for, forgot their assumed one, and answered in their own, which, of course, instantly opened the eyes of the officials, and led to the passport being committed to the flames and its bearer to the police. The bearer; in company with others in the same predicament, soon finds himself on board a steamer bound to Constantinople, where he is dropped on the pave, and the original owner of the passport is also sought out, and forwarded to the same destination. By these summary means we, at Balaklava, shall be well rid of spies, if not cut-throats and cut purses ; and as Kamiesh is acting in the same way as Balaklava, the Crimea will soon necessarily stand in a very improved position. We have had these Russian sympathisers and spies too long among us, but I am happy to say the new system will gradually root them out. And a glorious capture has this week been made by the English police of a celebrated Russian spy, whose "pock marked face" and "grey horse" have figured in our local flue and Cry for some time past. He was this week literally " caught napping' in a but on a sly spot not a hundred miles from the Monastery and Karani. The French swear that had they caught him they would have shot him instanter. Another spy has been just taken near the Monas tery, where he has been in the habit of making night signals to the Russians, by bonfires and rockets. Since writing the above I have been told (and the authority seems good) that the docks at Sebas topol will be blown up in the Christmas week. The delay has occurred owing to the necessity for build ing a bomb-proof to shelter the man who will fire the train. SATURDAY AFTERNOON. The mail with papers to November 23, has ar rived. A very excellent plan is about to be followed out, for which General Codrington deserves the greatest praise. Canteens will soon be established, under the charge of a non-commissioned officer, in each regiment, and our Greek canteen-keepers, and such other adulterators, will be banished tho penin sula. A Cossack deserter has come in with one of our most celebrated spies, whose name it would be im prudent for me to mention. The Cossack is under surveillance at head-quarters. Owing to some strictures made by Mr. Russell in the Times on drunkenness in the army, and his advising the withdrawal of the soldiers' field allow ancio granted by her Majesty * his house was at, tacked by the redcoats the other night, and serious consequences might have ensued but fur the prompt arrival of the picket. I hear that - Mr. Russell (th e Ti mes ' Special Cor respondent) will, in a day or two, quit the Crimea on leave, THE FALL OF KARS. (From the Times Special Correspondent.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec. 10.—Letters from Erze roum to the 27th of November were received here on the evening of the 7th instant. They were to the effect that Kars was to capitulate on the 25th of November. Major Teesdale had gone out to arrange a meeting between General Williams and General Mouravieff, who, having attained his ob ject in that quarter, was detaching part of his forces to Akhaltsik and Kutais to act against Omer Pasha. Selim Pasha, says a correspondent from Trebizonda of th e 30th Nov., was still at Erze roum. The Turkish Government has advices from the authorities at Erzeroum up to the 27th No vember, and denies the truth of the above intelli gence respecting Kars, which it deems premature. I suspect it has received it, but does not choose to let the bail news be known until the capitulation has actually become a pit accompli. Official infor mation of the capture of the place will, in all pro bability, get to England before this letter. The event is a matter of surprise to no one after the in formation that has for some time past reached us as to the scanty stock of provisions remaining to the brave and much-enduring garrison. A number of men had died from hunger, and it was impossible to hold out longer. The price of cats had risen to 100 piastres a-piece. The Russians have little to boast of in the capture ; for, although they thus close the campaign of 1855 (otherwise uniformly disastrous to them) with a triumph and a trophy, the number of their prisoners will hardly equal their own loss in their late unsuccessful assault, and Kars is not a place of any use to them, or one that they will be likely to retain when the spring campaign opens. Possibly they may not even attempt to do so. The defence of Kars, although it has terminated unfortunately, is one of the most remarkable ex ploits of the present war, and one of the most honourable to those engaged in it. It is as worthy of applause as the mismanagement that rendered it unavailing is deeply to be deplored and strongly to be condemned. All that could be done was done by the gallant Turkish troops, and by the English officers, who assisted them with their counsels, shared their privations, and headed them in the fight. When want of forage and scarcity of provi sions compelled the departure of the cavalry, the garrison could but patiently await—ready and able (as they have shown themselves) to repel an at tack—the arrival of relief from without, or the exhaustion of supplies within. Sorties, with infantry alone, were out of the question ; for the Russians were not besieging the place, they were watching and blockading it, and Gen. Mouravieffs head-quarters were actually at three leagues from Kars. Had the garrison attempted the offensive, they must have gone to a far greater distance from their fortress than it was possible to do without cavalry and artillery, in both of which arms the Russians were strong. So they kept, perforce, within their defences, hungry, and with little hope, but patient and fearless, doing everything, in short, that brave men could do under such circumstances, without rushing madly on destruction. It is at least three months ago that General Williams wrote to friends here that it was a mere question of time and of the stomach ; that the place could certainly be held, unless famine, more powerful than the Russians, should put an end to the possibility of resistance. The fall of Kars, if all the circumstances attend ing it be considered, should produce a great sensa tion in England and France ; not on account of its real importance, which, I repeat, is not great, but as exposing gross neglect and mismanagement in some quarter or other. Prisoners of war are brought to a court-martial when restored to their service ; those made in Kars would assuredly be most honour ably acquitted of blame, but there must be other persons not in Russian captivity, who will have to stand their trial before the tribunal of public opinion. It will surely be asked by whose fault it was, that while the enemy quietly blockaded Kars ever since Midsummer, large bodies of troops were kept idle and useless on the Bosphorus and elsewhere, and the formation of an army in Asia was delayed until winter was at hand. When too late, some activity was displayed. Turks were sent from Bulgaria, Egyptians from Eupatoria ; other troops have lately been shipped hence for Trebizond, and we now learn that Selim Pasha has 12,000 men at Erzeroum, and are assuredonTurkish authoritythatO m ar Pasha and Mustapha Pasha; with a force estimated at nearly 40,000 men (some portion of which, I suspect, are now upon the sea, or perhaps not even shipped),areadvancing on Kutois, which the Russians are said to be evacuating. It is extremely improbable that the Russians are doing anything of the kind. They are not the people to abandon so easily SD important a depot and stronghold, at a moment when winter must quickly put an end to the campaign. A winter campaign in that part of Asia I believe to be impossible. What is to be expected is that Omer Pacha will go into winter quarters at Sonchnm-Kaleh, Mustafa Pasha at Batoum, and that at Erzeroum, where the slug gish and incapable ;.-elim Pacha commands, there will be forced inaction and possibly no litttle con fusion. All that the tardy concentration of troops in Asia will have done will be to have them in rea diness there for next spring. Effected two or three months sooner, it might, and in all proba bility would, have saved Kars. RUSS'IA. The Invalids Busse publishes the following : "Aide-de-Camp-General Prince Gortschakoff has for• warded the following-, under date of the 28th November (10th December) : " Everything goes on satisfactorily in the Crimea. "On the 26th of November (Bth of December), Col. Oklobijo, with a small portion of the detachment of the Upper Bdbek, crossed the mountain-pass which gives access to the valley of Baidar, attacked the advanced posts of the enemy at Ourkousta and at Baga, and, having dislodged,them from those villages, threw them back upon the Tchernaya. "20 prisoners remained in our hands." A letter from St. Petersburg, of the 10th, says —" The two divisions of grenadiers in the Crimea are not comprised in the corps d'arrnee charged to defend the plateau of Bakshi-Serai. They are posted in the rear of that corps on the side of Eupatoria, and are charged to protect the Perekop road. In addition to the grenadiers, who consist of 8 regiments, there are 4 regiments of infantry, 4of druschines, and 2 brigades of artillery. Let ters from Simpheropol state that up to the end of October, the Russians seriously feared that they would be obliged to evacuate that town, if the enemy had advanced from Eupatoria. During the last few weeks the military journal has published on different occasions judgments of courts-martial, degrading officers for embezzlement committed in the exercise of their functions. It is reported that much fermentation exists amongst the peasants of Southern Russia, and that the Em peror visited their countries partly to prevent the disturbance of order. The Emperor has seen, it is said, that the emancipation of the peasantry is in evitable. Alexander I. had already improved the position of the peasants of the Drown, and had ope rated a species of emancipation, but he was not imitated by the nobility. Allother consequence of the Emperor's journey will be the completion of the fortresses in the Southern Provinces. The Emperor Nicholas had spent many millions on them, but , the money only served to enrich the contractors, who constructed sham-forts. The brother of the Emperor is a good engineer, who . examines everything himself, and will not be easily deceived.', FRANCE. It is generally rumoured that General Canro bed will be named Marshal of France. The in tention of the Emperor to confer on the General this new dignity has been talked of for some time past. The treaty of commerce and amity contracted between France and Persia does not contain any political stipulations ; it purports simply to regu late the commercial relations between the two countries.- But the fact of its completion by the exchange of ratification is, under present circum stances, not the less important, as it must seriously impair the influence of Russia, who has so often in recent times done her best to induce Persia to de clare against Turkey and form an. alliance with her self. It is not unimportant to note that at this moment Persia not only is not the ally of Russia, but that she has drawn closer her amicable relations with the Western Powers, and consequently with the cause which has for its object the protection of the Ottoman empire, and which combats the policy of Russia. The following telegraphic despatches have been received iii Paris : BERLIN, Dec. 18.—The English Governm ent has, it Court of Austrian army. said, d eman d e d an explanation from the Vienna as to its motives for reducing the army. The organisation of the .i..rus c hine (Russian militia) will be next spring extended to P o land. A pro posal froth the Danish Government has been sent to the different governments interested, requesting the adjourn ment of the Conferences on the Sound dues. According to the last accounts r of ,irs, doubt s prior to the knowledge of the surr e f r j r , o h_ m St._ K Petersbu rg, were felt in that capital of the accepter co by Russia of the conditions of peace proposed by Austria. COPENHAGEN, Dec. 18.—On the demand of the Pro. cureur of the Sigh Court of Justice of Denmark, the trial of the ex-Ministers is again put off to the 12th of Jativary next. The Constitutionnel of yesterday pronounces itself in favour of peace, and considers that the task of the allies has been accomplished. Our con temporary argues thus : "[lll that the Eastern war could give to France eitl •r in moral or political result., in strength, con. siderttion, or influence in the councils of Europe, it ha, granted. Why, therefore, if the precise aim for which the war was commenced has been accom pli,he I , should not France agree to a peace on the conditions proposed since the commencement of hostilities by the Allied Powers, provided such be the wish af Russia. France could not desire the continuation of the war unless in the view of pass ing beyond the aim stipu;ated in the treaty of the 10th April, when it would become a question of dismember ing the Russian empire. The latter act could alone be (Inc at the profit of some one power. Would not France in that case require a compensation for th• advantages which would accrue to our E uro p ean state ! Would it not be justified in exacting that compensa tion ! But in that case it would no longer concern the Eastern war with its special aim, as the treaty of the 10th April with its particular character ; it would be nothing less than the reconstruction of the map of Europe and a revision of the treaties of 1815. Certainly, if it could enter into the thoughts and policy of England to propose to France a similar measure, and it would be found c , nvenient and propsr to France to entertain the proposal, the contiruatica of the war with that aim in view might appear desirable to many ; and it must be admitted that a conflict of that nature, notwithstanding the sa crifices it would demand, would be popular. But the Eastern war has not called that question into existence ; it is nowise the aim with which Eng land and France armed themselves against Russia ; and from the moment when it is not question of going out of the limits of the treaty of the 10th April, there can be no reasonable motive to desire the continuation of the war." BOURSE, Dec. 19.—Th© following are the last quotations : Cash. fr. e. 4 per Cents 9l 75 3 per Cents 65 New Low,' 65 60 Bank Shares 3210 Roman Credit Mobilier l3BO Austrian B3lgian Fives ...... .. Spanish Threes Piedmontese B7 Home Debt ...... .... End of Month. —f. -c. 65 35 RAILWAYS-FOB CASH. 82 831 40 36 fr. c. c . Or!lans Tortheili Lyons . ... ... . .. 1150 ---: New Ditto ' 755 Nlediterranean 1275 Grand Central 590 Lcons Genova 716 25 Teste ,. , Cede 705 A ustrian Com. 735 EAST INDIA AND CHINA MAIL SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 20. This day, at one o'clock, the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Ava, Capt. Field, arrived in the river, with the heavy portion of the East India and China mails, which were imme diately after landed. The Ava brings 62 passengers, amongst whom was Sir Laurence Peel, from Calcutta. The freight consists of 585 boxes of raisins, 109 bales of silk, 110 bags and 91 packages of gum, 1,240 sacks of wheat, 27 packages of elephants' teeth, and 248 packages of sundries. The dates of sailing were—Alexandria, Dec. 6 ; Malta, 10 ; Gibraltar, 15. On the 11th, the Ava passed two vessels bound to the westward, supposed to be H.M.S. Rodney and London ; and on the 16th, the steam-ship Melita, and the schooner Maid of Athens. Her Majesty's ships Ceylon and Hibernia were at Malta. At Gibraltar, the Prometheus. From Gibraltar we learn that during a gale on the night of the 10th, the Spanish brig Bravo, Capt. Daniel Maury, with a carga of wine, soap, paper, &c., bound from Barcelona to Havana, hav ing 47 passengers on board, was lost near Torre Carbonera (eastward of the rock), and 22 passen gers, i , ,cluding 7 women, perished. On the same night, the Georgiana, Capt. Parfitt, bound from Valencia to Liverpool, was driven ashore on the Eastern beach. The steam-transport Sir John Easthope, left Gibraltar on the morning , of the 14th, for Spithead, having in tow the sailing transport St. Hilda. The steam-transport Northumberland left Gib. raltar, on the 15th, for Spithead. Exchange on London, at 90 days' date, 51 to 51i. Freights, $l2 per ton, and 10 per cent. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. GIBRALTAR, Dec. s.—The Osprey, steamer ; which ar• rived yesterday from London, with stores for the British army at the seat of war, will coal previous to leaving for Balaklava. The following are the passengers she has en board :—Col. Patterson, Rev. E. Verity, Capt. Fereday,, Messrs. Blelock, Scherman, Calisher, Boys, O'Neill, and Jepper ; Mrs. and Master Ellison, Mrs. Lander, Mr., Mrs., Miss, and Master Pearse. _ A French line•of•battle ship and the British transport Lady Anne passed the garrison to the westward at half-past seven o'clock this morning. The sailing transport Title-Briton, Captain Norris, put into the hay this forenoon from Malta, to land gunpowder and shell hers. DEC. 6.—The steam-transport William Beckett, which came in from Malta yesterday evening, with condemned stores for Deptford, took in 90 tons of coal during the night, and will leave for her destination immediately after repairing some defect in the valves of her machinery. The sailing transports Bombay, Gemelza, and True Briton, are busy discharging shot, shell, drc. DEC. B.—The screw steamship Tiber, which left Liver• pool in the afternoo❑ of the 30th ult., arrived in the bay yesterday, at lour o'clock p.m. She brings five passengers and a general cargo for Gibraltar and different ports of the Italian peninsula, and will resume her voyage immediately after taking i❑ a supply of coal and discharging the goods destined for this market. The Italian, screw-steamer (a sister ship to the Sardinia, but 100 tons larger), arrived from Havre on Saturday afternoon laden with stores for the French army in the Crimea, and, after,coaling in the bay, started for Constan tinople at Ave p.m. yesterday. The screw-steamer Berwick, Captain Farmer, which put into the bay at one p.m. yesterday, to coal, made the pas sage from London in 5 days and 12 hours, notwithstand• ing she had been 13 hours without using steam, in conse quence of the engine being out of order. She exchanged signals with the French ship of the line Eneo, in lat. 38 48 N., long. 948 W. steering to the northward. The Ber• wick coaled at the New Mole, and resumed her voyage to the Crimea at eight o'clock last night, conveying 7 officers and 227 men of the Army Works Corps, and some wooden huts and warm clothing for that corps. The Progress, steam-transport, which arrived on Satur• day, and the Cockrane, steam-transport, this morning, are both laden with shot, shell, and gunpowder, for this ' , lace, and will disharge preparatory to leaving for Eag• laid. The Zebra, steam-transport, arrived during the evening, from Malta, where she left on the 3d instant, with Major Guernsey, Turkish Contingent ; Capt. Knight, of the same corps ; Dr. M'Donell, deputy inspector of hospitals ; Mr. Leyland, and four others, for Portsmouth. and will proceed, as soon as she gets a supply of coal at the New Mole. The Indiana, steam•transport, which lift Malta half an hour before the Zebra, also arrived here at half past 10 this morning. DEC. 11.—During the stormy state of the weather last night the British ship Georgiana, Capt. Parfitt, was driven ashore on the western beach, near the Tunara. This ship had lately discharged a cargo of guano at Valencia, and was on her passage from that port to Liverpool in ballast. The Zebra, steam-transport, having been supplied with 160 tons of coal from the New Mole, proceedeid at 8 a.m. to -Ipithead. The Progress and Cockrane, steam-transports, laden with powder and shot from the East are discharging their cargoes preparatory to leaving for England. DEC. 12. The Indiana, steam-transport, Captain M'Master, which came in yesterday afternoon from Malta, is laden with gunpowder, shot, and shell for this garrison, and will discharge the same preparatory to leaving for England. The sailing transport-ship St. Hilda, from Malta, in ballast, for Plymouth, put into the bay yesterday. The Belgian schooner Ville de Liege, laden with fruit, b,aind from Marseilles to Antwerp, unfortunately got ashore off the Devil's Tongue during the night. The steam tug Bustler went to her assistance this morning, and sue. ceeded in getting her afloat. DEC. 13.—The steam transport Bahiana passed from west to east at half-past eleven o'clock this morning. DEC. 14.—The extraordinary prevalence of wet weather during the latter part of the last month and the early half of this may lead some persons to fear lest a prejudicial change of some sort has come over our usually delightful climate. What might be the cease of such a change it would probably puzzle the philosophy of our Gibraltar meteorologists to determine, but it may be some consola tion to them to know that the present inundation is not a together unprecedented, and that we may still hope for the return of an unclouded sun at its usual seasons of vlsi tatiou. Although the mean annual fall of rain in this place is estimated at 31.1 inches ; and the actual state of the plu viometer at the end of less than four months gives an amount of 40.28, the variation is recorded to be no less , than from 17m194.16 up to 62.87 the maximum w hich fell i n the year anomalies, lieslt rare is ne not to haveapprehended, lately b e en observed—such rain—the therefore,ft h 34onie absencealthoughat of soiree as nearly double the usual quantity of spots upon the sun on all bu n t in frequency of the customary meteors as the moon having at this change entirely forf e ited eVeodrasyasnd out othero the natural causes whi ch have hitherto r endered this corner her prestige—any material a lterationhas been eff ec t e d by of the Mediterrannean not less agreeable to those who do not dislike to see or feel the sun, than generally healthful to all who do not scorn to be prudent in the matter of expo sure to its unobstructed beams. The steam transport Sir John Easthope took her de parture for Spithead this morning at eight o'clock, taking in tow the British sailing transport St. Hilda. The Northumberland, steam-transport, Captain Craggy which left Malta at four p.m. on the 7th inst., put into the bay this forenoon to coal, and will leave for Spithead to-morrow morning. Captain Cragg observed, about 4 0 miles to the eastward of the Rock, bulwarks, stanchions, hen-coops, other articles, and a great quantity of oranges flea iug on the surface of the water, which appeared to be remnants of a ves:,el recently wrecked and broken up. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BANKING COMPANY.—The Ulna , meeting of this company was held yesterday. The re port showed that the affairs of the company were in a prosperous condition. From the accounts it appeared that the year's •profits amounted to 45,8751. 170. 2d * The balance on the 28th of May last was 50,3471. 18F -2d., from which 10 per cent. was carried to the reserve fund, and a dividend of 14 per cent. on the paid-up calm tal was declared. After a brief discussion the report was adopted. mot The 30t1 flori of 1 bein mut MOT the the the 3 IL mere the lulu: fora repo 400, cons busi mad their whil the i mai wee for Cali Mai Pen Vir 80, him Ba ;F $1 Ne