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

Spirit of the Public Journals. enjoying the confidence of scientific men whom he cannot appreciate, or wasting in smoke, billiards, anddog-eared novels that time which a more sen sible man would have devoted to study. We do not, of course, assert that this is the necessary or even the uniform result of our present system. But surely a system which permits such things as these requires a remedy ; and the remedy which we pro pose is not only extremely simple but perfectly effectual. It is neither more nor less than this. Let no man be appointed to any situation on any Staff unless he has shown his capacity by having already passed an examination or taken his degree (as it were) at some military college, or, at all events, by his willing ness to undergo such an examination. With those who are now serving on the Staff we have no desire to interfere ; but let the proposed rule be rigidly applied for the future. The system which we are now advocating is no new thing. It is the system which is adopted in the French army, which is re commended by Sir Howard Douglas, and many of the witnesses who were examined by the Committee of the House of Commons on Military Education, and it is the system which is, in fact, adopted by the Horse Guards whenever active operations ren der the employment of competent men a necessity. It is, indeed, impossible to imagine any system more unfair than that which is now pursued as to the Staff of the British army. During peace, when the abilities of the Staff officer are not so impera tively demanded as in time of war, we suffer job bing and favouritism without limit. During peace, therefore, we give no encouragement to those who would willingly devote their means and their time to the study of war, and to the acquisition of mili tary experience ; for during such times the idle and the industrious have an equal prospect of reward and promotion. We studiously neglect our oppor tunities of promotion. But when war comes upon us, and danger threatens, we send hither and thither in search of men who have studied their profession and are fit for service. Thus in the Peninsula, uncle' 1 the Duke of Wellington, the Staff did not become effi cient till it was filled by officers regularly educated; and thus, also, when the present war broke out both Lord Hardinge and Lord Raglan desired to have lists sent to them of those officers who had a mili- ' tary education. What can be clearer than that even in the opinion of our military authorities the duties of the Staff cannot be performed by un educated men ? What can be clearer than that those claims of superior knowledge which force themselves into notice in time of war are syste matically neglected in time of peace ? What cau be mere obvious than that some plan ought to be devised by which such claims may be certain to be recognised ? Nor, indeed, should we omit to men tion that the rights of superior men to Staff ap pointments are expressly asserted and vindicated by the Sandhurst Committee. But even if the necessity of a military education were less apparent, it is an act of simple justice and common prudence to follow the principle that the best situations—the prizes, as it wore, in the army —ought to be secured to the most able and indus trious officers. It is, indeed, impossible to exag gerate the benefits which would result to the British army if no man could bet upon the Staff unless he had thoroughly studied his profession. Men of wealth and of ambition would then see the neces sity of giving their sons, destined for the army, a regular military education. Instead of being doomed to see a promising youth wasting his time in stupid extravagance because the path of ambi tion was closed to him, the prospect of early pro motion and distinction would be held out as the certain result of studious exertion. Men of little interest, but with a natural genius for military pursuits, would no longer be restrained from obeying it, or be forced to seek distinction in foreign lands. The supercilious ia'olence of rapid promotion and the heartburnings of patient merit would in some sort be reconciled. In short, the character of the army, instead of degenerating in time of peace by the very necessities of its consti tution, would, in spite of inactivity, sustain that character for intelligent bravery which it had already gained in time of war. Many schemes of army reform have been pro pounded. Some would abolish the system of pur chase, some would retain it. We need not settle the question ; for, whatever may be the result, the Staff must be an educated body. You may, if you will, raise a man from the ranks to be commander in-chief. If he be a man of genius, he may originate the most brilliant military conceptions. But these conceptions must be carried into execution. And to carry them into execution is the duty of the Staff. As Colonel Adams says, nearly all the old I imperial French marshals were uneducated men ; Prince Blucher was by no means a clever man ; but they, and he in particular, had highly educated and very clever Staff officers, and indeed, in the ease of Blucher, his Staff not only carried into effect but originated all his defensive or retiring movements, and many even of the offensive opera. tions. Iu short, the Staff are the elite of the army, and they ought to have every privilege. Only in sist upon this—that the officers of the Staff shall be men of knowledge, and the inevitable consequence must be that the general character of the British officer will be elevated. (From the Times of this day.) The long preparation required for any military enterprise is the chief difficulty in the art of war. In the campaign which has not long since concluded it was commonly admitted that the first steps were taken rashly, without the materials of success — without the knowledge whick should guide a gene ral. The result was, that slowness of execution followed incautiousness of conception, and the vic tory was at last won only by the stubborn endur ance of two armies and the unflinching patriotism of their respective nations. If Napoleon swept over Central Europe at a march, and carried his eagles to Moscow, it was because the plan of his. campaign was the study of months, and each halt ing-place of each Division was pricked out on his maps before war itself was declared. It will not, therefore, surprise our readers that the plan of the ne xt campai gn should be already under considera tion. Nor is it too soon. When the city of Sebastopol fell all the world looked on the event merely as a beginning of victories. The gran deur of that catastrophe, the admitted destruc tion of 30,000 Russians within a single month, the capture of cannon and materials of war beyond all former precedent, the enthusiasm of the allied armies and the depression of the enemy, all seemed to indicate that the victorious generals had only to act vigorously against Prince Gortschakoff and the total abandonment of the Crimea might at once follow. We still believe that had the Russian Ge neral been hardly pressed he would have shrunk from exposing his shattered force to the attack of the two armies ; but no such operations took place, and there is sai to have been sufficient cause for the caution we have witnessed. At any rate, it was soon evident that everything was at an end for the year, and that six months' rest would re cruit our own troops, though, on the other hand, it would renew the armies of the enemy, give him time to strengthen every position, and reassure his soldiers for a still more formidable contest. Of those six mouths three are already past. In three more the Crimean winter will be at an end, and the season when military operations may be best attempted will have arrived. It is certain that the Allies will do well to form their plans early enough to execute them before excessive heat dries the wells and destroys the pasturage of the plains. If the Crimea is to be conquered, their armies, then probably a quarter of a million strong, must take the field before April is far ad vanced. Every man of this mighty force has to be victualled by sea ; every beast of burden has to he purchased in distant provinces and brought to the seat of war in steam-transports. As far as pos sible, the enemy will destroy every blade of corn or grass and fill up every well as they retreat. It becomes, then, the duty of prudent statesmen and commanders to consider, with almost minuteness of detail, the plan of the coming campaign. It will resemble very little any that have gone before it. The opposing armies are still, as it were, in closed lists, with no help from the territory they hold. So far is the war from supporting the war that those supplies which generals have in all ages ga thered from the actual seat of war must now be cared for and collected beforehand. Commissariat and laud transport will be taxed beyond the ex ample of any former war. The enemy, indeed, in all these matters is far worse off than our selves, but still it is of importance further to in crease our superiority by an immediate decision and corresponding preparations. We believe that with this view a council of war will shortly be held at Paris, at which the Duke of Cambridge, attended by Sir R. Airey, will be pre sent. Sir E. Lyons, too, will join in the conference, and may be daily expected at Marseilles. The ob ject of this meeting will be to weigh thoroughly the several plans for the next campaign, and when a decision is formed, to carry out combined opera tions with energy and completeness. It is reported that Marshal Pelissior has been foremost in re questing that this council should be held. It will be remembered that during the months of Septem ber and October the French General was sanguine as to an autumn campaign, and pushed forward his columns with what looked like activity. The telegraph, which, through Lord Panmure, was used to make known almost daily intelligence, became on a sudden silent. The expectation of the two nations, and we may add of their Gover clients, was highly raised. The French crossed the Valley of Baidar, seized the heights to the north, pushed forward a division to the head-waters of the Belbek, and threatened the passes of Aitodor and Albat. At that time an opinion was expressed that the Russian plateau, steep as a wall towards the south, and to be gained only by narrow passes, was a position not to be att ac k e d. Th e con t rar y, how ever, was urged even by military men, who held that any chain of hills could be forced or turned. The result proves that the former judgment was well founded. Marshal Pelissier is said to havegiven his opinion that no campaign is possible from the present Lase of operationF. The Russians, more than two months since, held the passes with a force which could resist any assault. The roads were scarped, the hills strengthened by works. By April they might be made absolutely impregnable, or, if determined mi ned valour aiht force them, it would be_ general to shrink. 11/tat plan of campaign is re solved on will, of course, be a secret till the hour for its execution arrives. It is evident, however, that the allies have a great advantage in possessing two bases accessible to their fleets and impregnable by the enemy. Eupatoria and Yenikale are now converted into two intrenched camps, from both of which Simpheropol and the Russian rear are threatened. The country is not difficult, but the chief difficulty is likely to be the want of water. Perhaps this cause may lead to the abandonment of any operations from Eupatoria. The enemy, on the other hand, has the advantage of a central position from which he may oppose the converging forces which operate from the points of the coast. We cannot doubt that all which military science can effect, after 18 months of preparation, awaits us in our march against the Russian positions. Though of success there can be no doubt, yet it is the duty of our generals to purchase it as cheaply as possible, and we therefore trust that the delibe rations of the council will be wise and foresighted. The position of Asia can hardly escape conside ration. Should the capture of Kutais be effacted by Omar Pasha much will have been gained, but, assuming that it has been fortified and can be held, the Russians will doubtless make a longe defence. The capture of Kars places a fine position and a strong fortress in their hands. The system of for tifications commenced by Colonel Lake is said to be a great work of engineering sciene 3, and these forts ate now g arrisoned by th e enem y. K u t a i s and Kars will form their extreme right and left, behind will be Teflis and Gumri, while men and , munitions of war will be brought by the military roads from Derbend and Baku, on the Caspian coast. The Russians are said to have lately paid much attention to this route from a fear that the Vladikaukus Pass might be interrupted by snow or the enmity of the Caucasian tribes. That they will make ready for a desperate defence there can be little doubt, and if the year 185 d passes away without an Asiatic campaign, they will probably be in a condition to oppose every step of the Allies in the land they so much prize. Such is the state of affairs at the close of the present year. The Allies have been victorious ; they are ready for other campaigns and a snore extended stage of war. Yet they have difficulties before them which it is useiess to conceal. With boldness, guided by skill and forethought, they may hope for early success ; but no error is greater than to consider an enemy incapable of resistance because lie has been once beaten, or to expect that he will aoquieace in defeats because they clearly prove the superiority of his opponents. We must prepare for another and a longer struggle before we can hope for final repose. OXFORD, DEO. 24. THE SECOND PUBLIC EXAMINATION. The following is an analysis of the recent Publi Exalination in the four schools of Classics, Natura Science, Mathematics, Law, and History. The num ber of candidates in the Classical School was 171 ; of these 17 took off, 21 were plucked, and 37 went up for honours ; of which number 8 were placed in the first class, 12 in the second, 14 in the third, and 10 in the fourth. The remaining 96 received tostamurs. In the school of Natural Science there were 9 candidates-5 classmon (2 first and 3 seconds) and 4 passmen ; 1 took off. In the school of Mathematics the number was 77 : took off, 17 ; plucked, 4 ; testamurs, 49. Classmen, 7 second, 1 ; third, 5 ; fourth, 2 ; took off, 1. In the school of Law and History, candidates, 113 : took off, 22 ; plucks, 8 ; classes, 20, viz., first, 5 ; second, 6 ; third, 4 ; and fifth, 5. The Lord Bishop of Oxford held an Ordination in the cathedral church of Christ, in Oxford, on Sunday last, when the following gentlemen were admitted into holy orders. The Ordination sermon was preached by the Rev. R. Hussey, 8.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History : DEACONS. Thomas Jack Baty, 8.A., Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Joseph Butt, Cuddesdon College, near Oxford. Robert Henry Codrington, 8.A., Fellow, Wadhasn College, Oxford. Thomas Fowler, 8.A., Fellow, Lincoln College, Ox ford. John Henry Jo wit, 8.A., Bishop eosin's Hall, Dui.- kam. Tay Laver, B A., Caius College, Cambridge. William Kenneth Macroice, 11. A., Brasenose College, Oxford. Arthur Henry Pearse, Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Alleyne Ward Pearson, 8.A., Pembroke College, Cambridge. Francis Arthur Powys, 8.A., Fellow, St. John's Col lege, Oxford. George Frederick Price, 8.A., Fellow, New College, Oxford. Orby Shipley, 8.A., Jesus College, Cambridge. Walter Waddington Shirley, M.A., Wadham College, Oxford. Alfred Sweetinr, 13. A., Pembroke College, Cambridge. Henry Earle Tweed, Follow, Oriel College, Oxford. Edmund Henry Lacon Willey, 8.A., Michel Scholar, Queen's College, Oxford. Arthur Hunter Wyatt, 8.A., Clare Hall, Cambridge. PRIEST& Rev. John Hunter Abrahall, Fellow, Lincoln Col lege, Oxford. Rev. Francis Charles Antridge, 8.A., St. John's College, Cambridge. R ev . Anthony Bunting, M.A.,Trinity College, Dublin. Hon. and Rev. William Byron, 8.A., Fellow, All Souls College, Oxford. Rev. Euseby Digby Cleaver, 8.A., Christ Church Oxford. Rev. Arthur Adolphus Fanshawe, S.C.L. Fellow, New College, Oxford. Rev. Charles Septimus Grabbe, 8.A., Jesus College, Cambridge. Rev. Alfred Newdigateß,M.A., CLiriatlarCha Hall, ureh,oxford. Rev. Joseph Mayer Ni x on, A. cc a „. bridge. Rev. North Pinder, M.A., Fellow, Trinity College, Oxford. Rev. Harris Smith, M.A., Fellow, Magdalen College, Oxford. Rev. Edward Sturges, 8.A., Emmanuel College, Cam. bridge. Rev. George Sturton Ward, M.A., Magdalen Hall, Oxford. Rev. Charles Fleetwood Porter, M.A., Caius College, Cambridge. After the Ordination his lordship licensed the following to curacies, viz. :—The Rev. T. J. Baty, 8.A., to the curacy of Saunderton ; the Rev. J. Butt, to the curacy of Littleworth, Berks ; Rev. J. H. Jowitt, 8.A., to the curacy of Chipping Norton ; Rev. T. Leaver, 8.A., to be assistant curate in the Amersham and High Nycomb Deaneries ; Rev. A. H. Pearee, M.A., to the curacy of El 3t Ila : 8.A., tead, Berks • Rev. A. W. P earson , 8.A., to the assigant curacy of Sunni ng d a l e , B er k s ; R ev . 0. Shipley, to the curacy of St. Thomas, Oxford ; Rev. A. B. Wyatt, 8.A., to the curacy of Cowell and Shirburn, Oxon ; and Rev. A. Bunting, 8.A., to the curacy of Moulsoe, Bucks. (From the Daily News of this day.) Why is it that officers in the army are so anxious to be upon the Staff ? Huw comes it that those officers who are upon the Staff are generally men of high birth or of commanding military influence? The answer to these questions is mystery. To be upon the Staff is to be exempt from regimental duty, to enjoy better pay, to live in better quar ters, to be more in the way of promotion, and in very many cases to be less exposed to danger. To be upon the Staff is to be one of a select few pos sessed of every privilege which can be enjoyed by man in the military profe ss i on. Hence the Staff is filled with men not who have distinguished them selves, but who are the sons, or the nephews, or the cousins of the general officer who appointed them. Surely no man would put his relations on his Staff unless the situation was something very eligible ; and therefore, when we s w : e s li t e a a ff r wfraosmSir John Burgoyne that Lord Raglan com posed principally of his relations, it is clear enough what value that lamented officer put upon such appointments. Only compare the situation of a Regimental with that of a Staff officer. Whilst the one is standing night after night knee deep in muddy trenches in front of the enemy, the Staff officer may be enjoy ing the artistic excellencies of a French cook, and all the comforts of a warm fireeide ; whilst the ono , man who has served his Queen in every quarter of I CEIURCLI Ra quiet pariah HERTS, Dec. 24. the globe is still a greyhaired captain, the beard ast ondurihng the last week less Staff officer who has gained his conquests in been the scene of a sev p e a r r e ls c h oti h t —This usually T q London ball-rooms, has already been transformed t the e es uluse t uf ts year continued into into a full-blown colonel ; whilst the one man for two days the number of votes recorde a d P w ° as—A n ainst tion of a church rate. having no interest but his native intellectual ca a- the rate, 301 ; for the rate, 218 ; majority against g the city is doomed to the drudgery of daily drill a nd rate, 83 . It i s hoped that this will prove decisive, and the society of riotous subalterns, the Staff officer is prevent an y future attempt to levy the obnoxious impost. RETFORD WORKING MEN'S iSSOCIA TION. LECTURE ON " INTERESTING AND EVERY DAY THINGS IN SCIENCE." The crowded state of our columns last week prevented us from giving the Rev. H. C. Mitchinson's very useful and interesting lecture at the above association on the evening of the 12th instant. We to-day present to our readers the rev. gentleman's remarks in their entirety. It may be essential to premise that the lecturer gave , additional force to his remarks by many well-arranged I appropriate illustrations ; and succeeded in rivetting the attention and eliciting the frequent applause of a largo and respectable attendance of members. The CHAIRMAN (the Rev. Arthur Brook) having in troduced The Rev. H. C. MITCHINSON, he spoke as follows : I have thought since I gave a name to my subject that I have given one rather liable to be misunderstood ; and some persons, mistaking the use of the word " interesting" may have thought me presumptuous. Now I beg to explain, that I never meant to say that my paper would be necessarily an interesting one, but that the subjects of which it will treat are interesting in themselves ; for it is possible to treat interesting things in such a manner as to make them very uninteresting. And with regard to the word " every-day," as applied to some of the things I shall introduce, it is surprising ' how ignorant even well-educated people are of "common things" in ecienoe ; and, it may be, we have often been ashamed and vexed with ourselves at not being able to answer the frequent " why" of our children about some every-day occurrence. You have probably most of you heard the tale of that king, who, though in many respects a beautiful character, was rather weak in intellect ; I mean George 111. It is told of him that he was ex gaoret i t n r e s f ni d e e Iy a perplexed dunlnlf ng w i N t h o the vr I question tnfnk a h n o y w p e a r p so p l n e s s ignorant of things nearly as simple as this ; or if they will not allow that—if they do not like to assent to being as ignorant of the worthy king—l do think we may all imitate his disposition to inquire into simple understand. subject to It is suppose perhaps v ey well r i t n ilin a g d s dr t e h s a s t in w g e p d e o not rsons on any little previous knowledge—to explain the very elements and if there should be any here who understand science in its various branches, they will excuse me if I seem to give credit for very little previous knowledge ; they will not sit impatiently when they remember that all have not their abilities, or perhaps with equal if not superior abilities, have not had their opportunities. I have chosen a broad field of subjects, but my ranging that field will be limited by the necessity of choosing, what requires as little previous explanation as possible. I hops, too, at intervals, as we pass along, to call your attention to the wisdom and benevolence of God ;—his wisdom in the admirable contrivance which marks his works, his bene volence in so contriving them as to promote man's happi ness. I will begin with the shape of the earth. You all know it is a sphere or globe, i. e., round, not like a shilling, but like an orange. But how can this be proved. As far as you or I can tell,it is as flat as the floor of this room. Now there are two or three ways in which this may be proved. One is, if you are standing on the sea-shore and watch a ship approaching, you see the topmast first, the hull er body of the ship last. (Fig.) Another way by which it is proved that the earth is round is this. The moon is eclipsed When the earth comes between it and the sun (fig.) ; the shadow of the earth is then cast upon the moon, and in all positions that shadow is round ; accord ingly, the earth must be of the form of a globe, for that is the only shape which will cast a round shadow in all youmovesallkw roundno t i h ts a a t xf t s h . e s F u o n r a sta lo n n d g s s t itmi positions.lle, i a t n w d tslh though—as u e p a p r t o h s t e you or I should—that the earth stood still, and the sun and other heavenly bodies moved. But if I give you an illustration you will see that the appearance of things is the same to a man standing on the earth; whether you suppose the earth to stand still and the sun to move, or the earth to move and the sun to stand still. If you are in a railway train which is moving and along side on the other line of rails there is another train standing still, if you watch the standing train it appears to be moving, and the one you are in appears to stand still. Or if you are sailing in a boat, you could, by looking at the bank, fancy it was gliding in an opposite direction, and that the boat was stationary. Galileo discovered that the earth goes round the sun. And perhaps we shall not so much wonder that he was denounced as a heretic and blasphemer, placed in a dungeon, and brought to take his trial before the Inquisition, for he seemed to be setting up his opinion against the Word of God, In the Book of Joshua we read, that God allowed Joshua to work a miracle, which is thus described :—" And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed until the people had avenged themselves on their enemies." Now if this had been described by the inspired historian now, he would have said that the earth ceased to revolve upon, its axis a whole day, so that that part of it on which the -Jews were did not pass out of reach of the rays of the sun. And it was perfectly reasonable that, he should describe the miracle aecording to the then knowledge of astronomy and the appearance of things. Every one has observed how much larger the sun and moon seem at their rising and setting. It is explained in this way ; objects look larger through the medium of mist : and at setting or rising the sun is more horizontal to us, and therefore seen through the vapours that cover the earth. This leads me to tell you a little about light. Light travels so fast that it would go eight times round the earth while a person counts one. In fact, some of the fixed stars ars so distant, that if they were quenched their rays for three years after would continue to reach us, and would make it appear in its usual place. Sight is produced by rays from the sun, moon, or any source of light, reflected from objects we look upon, striking and picturing themselves upon our eye. Thu,, some sub tances are very brilliant, because they are peculiarly suited to reflect light (as glass, steel) ; others, like lead, are dull because they abiorb a great deal of light. You all know that when you leave the gas-light of a town, or d srruct itcap, sheahehlr l reemomenefli nesnwi aaaordrtot tsyrenvrnet.kotuesee: rympdnnnesuaesAeoab:wa: flattened, teodsi upon aahbha adapting distancetaot dh birdsigui nneegtgahp:. wgeatr etoi any light in a house, how dark it appears at first, .sei the principle that the pupil of the eye is so constituted as to contract very much when we are in a powerful light, otherwise it would allow the optic nerves to be overloaded with rays ; acc)rdingly when we go into the dark, the pupil of the eye is at first too much contracted to collect sufficient rays from the dark objects around ; but by degrees it dilates, adjusts itself to the quantity of light, admits more rays, and wo begin to say it is not so very dark after all. Hence cats and owls sleep most of the day, because the pupils of their eyes are broad, se they close their eyes for relief; whereas at night they can see very well, bemuse the broadness of their pupil astmits rays plentifully. I will here endeavour to explain to you short and long sight. A short-sighted person can only ace an object near his eye. A long-sighted person cannot see things near, but distant objects. Now vision consists in a picture being formed on the network which lines the back of the eye—this network is called the retina.—[The rev. gentleman here exhibited drawings illustrative of this part of his subject.]—You writing Tt l anhn p gey e rttehehpafel anything reason theyhai s e n, n tt t ht h weo e ahyrnuehtmaadotv, to examine, humours seo n xo o aaf t mdt hiitheirsneteiar, distance ecysoeper from rac are u h bscdo e piiuf rrsorordn c moent o , emsh r attr n hrahotia e eneshw a ni dert , rgnoeeerbto o yobi oe r neoefns .a f dhhe r y vo o binsbroA n ydi i t oettnlnnahtd p hleete a deeho r aoiesr t nibortets is o aefsten f i IcronGottefaehbetujeiaiiei fromeronya ei wouldgdsre. beak, it is n ecessary th at t h ey should be able to see very near objects dFisatypinuctntlosyoilicelogNseoo to fwloatnhge sight ey person i o i r is d t i i n n a g r u y ish eig n h o t tng if — hi t o o iwt b i j t e mh c ati its ssbeak.ee must b e r y to neart Consequentlyh the bird's objects eye the bird,when distinctly, t n t must orderl u t e s st h i have t a ti t va l p y et short sight. O n t h e ot h er hand, from being often ele vated much ab ove th e groun d , li v i ng in the air, and moving tsharfoeut safety, as it wellw t h as g f r u e r a a t ss s i w st i f f n t gnestsh, them m he f y i for descry ingtheir thei r p rey , a power of see i ng at a great distance ; in e as with ordinary , h other words they ought to be long-sighted. Birds of a ntdhelyon are. g.s i ra pinele are su r p r i s i ng examp l es of this; indeed has it not i t n o g be eagle-eyed And short-sighted so become a proverbi a l express i on to speak of a person be gßteirdd-slbtohtli then, ought ug to see things very close and at a great distance. They have muscles so constructed that, on the one hand, they can flatten their eye and so become long-sighted, and view very distant objects ; on the other, they can make the eye prominent, and so become short sighted, and view very near objects. Is not this an admirable ar rangement ? Surely God doth all things well. I will now pass on to tell you something about sound. In the production of sound there are three things to be noticed—a sounding body, as a bell for instance ; a conducting medium, as the air; and an organ of hear ing, as the ear. We have all of us been boys in our time, and have most probably had a boy's propen sity to throw stones ; and we have observed the effect of throwing a stone into water, how tance the water is disturbed by circling ripples. This will servo to illustrate sound ; a bell, suppose, is struck— this causes vibrations or waves in the air which sur rounds it, and the waves come on and on, until one strikes upon my ear and I hear it, and another strikes upon yours and you hear it, and so every one hears it who is near enough, whereas those far off do not, be cause the waves of sound, like the waves of water caused by the stone, become weaker and weaker, and at last imperceptible. And here I would explain why it is that we see the flash of lightning before we hear the clap of thunder. The flash and the sound really take place at the same time, the thunder being caused by the com ing together of the air again after it has been parted by the lightning flash. Why then do we not see the flash and hear the clap at the same moment; because light travels nearly a million times faster than sound ; accordingly we see the flash almost the very instant the discharge of electric fluid takes place; but we do not hear the sound until some time after ; in fact, sound and thunder takes a whole second to travel 300 yards. Some things conduct sounds better than others. Wood is a good cond uc t or, as may be proved in this . way—the ticking of a wat c h at one end of a piece of timber is distinctly heard at th e ot h er. Sound is also well conducted over still water and ice. All sounds move with the same swiftness through the came medium. For instance, in a long music -hall, all the sounds har monise upon the ear of a person at the further end from the musicians. This would net be so unless all the sounds travelled at the same pace. To exemplify wh a t I mean, suppose a fiddle, a flute, and a cornet were all together, to play together the notes A, B, C, D, consecutively in a piece of music ; unless all rounds travelled (in same medium) at the same pace, we should have some such result as this—when a person at a dis tance heard the last part of the note A from the fiddl e , the flute would be just sending upon the ear the com mencement of B, and so on, and an endless confusion of sounds would at the same moment reach his ear. I will here say something about echo. Whenever a sound-wave strikes against any obstacle, as a wall, hill, or mound of earth, it is thrown back, and this sound is I called an echo. Small buildings where the walls are near the speaker do not produce an audible echo, be cause the echo and original sound strike the ear at the same time. But in a cathedral, where the walls are some distance from the " thing giving sound," there is an audible echo, because the sound does not return to the ear until the first sound has died away. Sound travels 380 yards in a second. I will suppose an object, as a mountain for instance, is that distance from me ; I shout ; I hear the shout directly by ono of the sound waves striking on my ear. In two seconds I shall hear the echo, that is, one of the sound waves sent back from ' the mountain ; two seconds, you observe—for it will have taken a second to go the 380 yards, and a second to return. suppose I were to play a line of music containing 10 notes, each a second in length, and sup pose a reverberating surface (a mountain) 3,800 yards off; when I have done the 10th note, the echo of the first note will just be leaving the mountain to come back to me, and in 10 seconds I shall hear it and all the others following in regular order ; in fact the echo will play the line of music through. If I suppose half the distance, with the seine number of notes, the echo would begin to play the line of music immediately I had done. Brewer, in his " Guide to Science," gives a very remarkable instance of echo. " Seventeen miles above glasgow, in Scotland, is a very remarkable echo. If a trumpeter plays a tune, the echo will begin the same tune and repeat it all accurately ; as soon as this echo has ceased, another will echo the same tune in a lower tone ; and after the second has ceased, a third will suc• ceed in a feebler tone." Deafness, I may here remark, is often caused by the drum of the ear, i.e., the part upon which the sound strikes, being injured. If you make a hole in a tambourine, for instance, it will sound very imperfectly. It is just so with the ear. When the tympanum or drum of the ear is broken, it answers to the waves or sound very imperfectly. Those of you who visited the Groat Exhibition of 1851 call to mind the sulky boy with his broken drum, and you have before you an illustration of the cause of many a per son's deafness. I will now tell you a little about the air we breathe. All air, when heated, ascends. Hence the pulpit is a hotter place than the body a church ; the gal lery of any building is hotter than the floor. This prin ciple, that air when heated ascends, will explain to us why a balloon goes up. When the cotton or sponge is set fire to, this heats the air inside the balloon, which thereby becomes light and ascends and takes up the bal loon with it ; when the spirit is burnt out, the air inside the balloon becomes cold and heavy and descends, and the balloon comes down too. Sense of you, I doubt n ot, have visited the sea. Has it ever struck you as singular that the breeze should always be towards the land ? The reason of it is this : the earth and the air near it is more heated than the sea and the air near it. The warmer air, therefore, from the earth ascends, and cool air from the sea comes to supply its place, and we on laud always feel a breeze inland. Though I believe in the evening the breeze is in the opposite direction, which is accounted for in this way, that the earth cools down faster than the sea. Accord ingly a little time after sunset the air on land is cooler than that at sea. The warm sea air ascends, the cold land air goes out to supply its place. In the evening, for a short time after sunset, the breeze is seawards. Similarly if you hold a candle at a crevice near the top of a door, the flame will blow outwards, because the warm air from the floor of a room has ascended there, and is escaping ; whereas if you put it down near the bottom of the door, the flame will blow inwards, be cause cold air is rushing in at the bottom to supply the pla,c3 of the ascending warm air. I may pass on to tell you a little about heat ; and first as to what is called the conduction of heat. Now a poker made of metal and made red hot will best show you what is meant by the conduction of heat. If the poker is red hot at one end, it will soon be hot all its length, be cause the heat of the red end has been communicated or conducted throughout the whole poker. Now the same will not take place if you heat a piece of wood at one end, because wood is a bad conductor, i.e., will not transmit heat through its extent. Hence it you have a metal tea-pot, the handle will feel very hot, because it will conduct or convey the heat to our hand ; whereas a wooden handle, or the metal handle with a little piece of wood or ivory between it and the body of the hot tea pot, would not feel it, the wood would not allow the heat to be conveyed unto our hands to burn them. Hence some cooking vessels are made with wooden hand,es— kettle•holders, too, of wood or worsted material, which are bad conductors. Now if a good conductor is warmer than the thing it touches, it will impart heat to that thing ; if it is colder, it will take heat Irons it. The hearth stone, which feels so cold, is really of the maims temperature as the hearth rug, which foie so warm. And why ? Be cause the stone is a good conductor, and conducts heat away from the bare feet if placed upon it, and makes them feel cold ; but the hearth-rug is a bad conductor, and does not conduct heat away. The earth is a bad conductor,and herein we see the wisdom of God ; for were it a good one, it would convey in the summer heat to dry up the springs, and in the winter, cold to kill the roots of trees. Hence water in a spring is cool in summer. Under ground cellars are warmer in winter than the air above ground, because the earth will not conduct the c )1d down to them—on the contrary, they are cooler in sacener be cause the earth will not conduct the heat to them. Air is a bad conductor; hence woollen garmeats are warm they have a great deal of air entangled amongst the fibres of the wool, and the air does not convey away war ntli from the body. When the Psalmist says—" The Lord giveth snow like wool," he means not only that it is white as wool, but warm as wool, because air is entangled in the crystals of snow, and being a bad conductor deer not convey heat away from the body. Hence persons who have been buried in snow have been discovered not only alive, but quite warm. I would now say a little about ab sorption of heat. To absorb heat is to suck it up as a sponge does water. The dark colours are found to absorb heat— the light ones to throw it eff by reflnxion. Accordingly a black hat is warmer than a white one ; the former _ se _farreflects it. throws urtun, will, it r may so speak, ho.ko Dimming to U 0 with it. There is an old riddle, " Why does a miller wear a white hat ?" the answer to which is, " to keep his bead warm." We see, however, that some persons wear a white hat to keep their head cool. But if black is a warm colour, and white a cool one, how comes it that the in habitants of hot countries are black —those of cold coun tries white. Is not the God of nature at fault here ? No, indeed not; for it is found that black will not blister, white will. If you place a black cloth glove on one hand when the sun is burning hot, and a white cloth one on the other, you will find the hand which has the white glove on cooler indeed, whereas the hand covered by the black one will feel hotter, but will not be scorched. It may be asked, too, why in the polar regions the bear is white, if that is the coolest colour. I think this is the best interpretation, and a satisfactory one, that God has so or dered it, that he may in some measure not afford so strik ing a mark for the hunters. Being the same colour as the snow, he is not so easily distinguished. Apropos of co lour, did it ever occur to you what eves the reason that anything blue looks green by candlelight. You know that yellow and blue, mixed together, make green. The dress is blue, the flame of the candle is yellow; and these colours combining the dress appears green. And before I leave the subject of heat, how is it that it is colder in a thaw than in a frost ? When the waters of our ponds, lakes, or rivers are frozen over, heat must be obtained from some source before the ice can be converted into water. Accordingly the heat of the air, instead of warm ing us, is employed in melting the ice. Similarly we may explain why people often feel chill after eating. Is it not the case that if you go out into the cold after a good dinner, you often feel cold ? The reason is that the heat of our frames leaves the surface of the body, and is employed within in digesting our food. You will tee how important heat is for promoting digestion, if you remember what effect it has in putrifyiug and rotting meat. I shall, before 1 On elude, explain a few "every-day" things, which I can• not exactly classify under any particular heads. First, blowing bubbles : soap water is always used—why ? Because soap makes the water sticky, and prevents the bubbles from bursting as soon as they are formed. But why should they ascend ? Because they are filled with warm brsath, which is lighter than air. Again, why do water pipes burst in cold weather ? Because water, un like other things, expands by cold. In fact, nine cubic inches of water, when frozen into ice, becomes ten cubic inches, and, of course, the water, when frozen, wantiny more room, pushes at the ; pipes and they burst just as a growing boy bursts his jacket. A g ai n , why should an egg get h ar d by b e i n g allowed t o s t an d with the shell unbroken—whereas if you break the top it does not ? In this way, cooking an egg, whether by boiling or poach ing, has a tendency to make the liquid inside solid. This is partly done on the fire ; then if the egg is taken out, and the shell unbroken, the heat is confined, and the cooking process goes on within, and it becomes harder and harder—whereas if you break the shell the heat escapes, and the cooking ceases. Again, you are most of you acquainted with those toys to show what sort of weather there is likely to be ; a man coming out in wet weather and a woman in dry. This is explained as follows : wet shortens string, catgut, Sec. ; accordingly some catgut is so twisted that when it is shortened by the moisture in the air the man is forced out—when it is lengthened again by the dryness of the air it sends the woman out. Similarly fiddle-strings snap in wet wea ther, because, having a tendency to "run up, and the screws preventing it, they break. I will not trespass further on your attention with "every-day things in science," lest from tediousness they should prove unin teresting. In conclusion, I would say that my object has been to excite an interest in those who have not yet dabbled in science—in fact, my own knowledge of it is so limited that I could hardly hope to interest those who probably know more than I do. I say my object has been to excite inquiry on such matters. In fact I may not unaptly compare myself to one of those men who stand outside a show at a fair, and not only proclaim the clever performances that are to be seen within, but prio duce a few outside, to whet the appetite of the admiring crowd—hoping they will seek their full gratification within. I, my friends, may compare myself to the man dressed in spangles, and endowed with a loud voice. I, this evening, as it were, stand on the stage, outside the theatre of science. I have shown you a sample of the rnystelies which are performed within its ample and capa cious apartments. And though I cannot say to you, as I have heard those showmen say, "if you are not satisfied, you shall have your money returned"—forshould you find n olyty y hto o omh euuul Chemistry,e ar r i rhnysni t m vodaAenes e en w ioy)t dofs a hbtosc s auakt: Scientific n d ketbtrole b i effie y aai en itt scienceDrhs oeu l tgaohgfa s eoer t stg U sewur d i eenee y od: , cannot, words enoolsnuaneyincri Health ftpuuti library; d not compensate you —yet, I will say, I am confident you will not want y er w r aav e ri nre m l eydlnp ifind oe y oyua a o houl u tnuhh . ,ti A to t visit andnbat deost somewlsat cursorily, examine the course of nature without laying of every creation of God what the Psalmist said of man, that "It is wonderfully made ;" and such an in vestigation will, when made in a right spirit, excite ad miration of the wisdom, and gratitude for the benevo lence of that Being who "created all things, and by whom they still consist," and who has so admirably adapted the earth and all it contains for the service and happiness of man. (Loud and long prolonged applause.) A vote of thanks, proposed by the Rev. C. Ilodge, and seconded by the Rev. R. J. Barrow, was cordially given to the lecturer, and the company separated. Naval and Military Intelligence. Captain Milne, of the Admiralty, having placed at the disposal of the council of the Royal Naval School, New Cross, a naval cadetship for the most meritorious pupil of that national institution between the ages of 14 and 15, on the examination day (23d of Jan. next), the appointment has been given to Master P. Parker, son of Commander H. Parker (1814), of Greenwich Hospital, who was midshipman of the Belleisle, 74, at Trafalgar. The Earl of Aberdeen, steam-transport No. 20, whose arrival at Spithead we reported yesterday, brought the following passengers and cargo f rom th e E as t : —Li eu t. Wolrige, Royal Marines ; Veterinary Surgeon Barker, 10th Hussars ; Staff Assistant-Surgeon Burkitt, Sur o' , son Read, of Beatso n ' s C ava l ry ; D eplty -A us i stant- Commissary-General Carr ; Messrs. Perkes, of the Army Works Corps ; Mr. Smallpiece, naval cadet ; 3 soldiers, 1 Royal Marine, and 7 ticket-of-leave convicts. The commandant of Chatham garrison has lately re• ceived from:the War-office, a fresh supply of interesting books for the use of the soldiers in barracks, a great many of whom avail themselves of such a boon during the winter evenings. From the London Gazette of Last Night, WAR DEPARTMENT, DEC. 24. Lord Pantnure has received the following returns of casualties from General Sir Wm. Codrington, K.C.B. : Head-Quarters, Sebastopol, Dec. 7. NUMERICAL RETURN OF CASUALTIES ON 3D DECEMBER, 1855. 18th Foot-4, rank and file wounded by a shell when on duty in tho Dockyard of Sebastopol. W. L. PAKENHAM, Adjutant-General. NOMINAL RETURN OF CASUALTIES ON 31 DECEMBER, 1855. WOUNDED, By a sholl in the Dockyard of Sebastopol. DEC. 3. 18th Foot—Privates Thomas Sullivan, dangerously ; Samuel Whelan, dangerously, sinco dead; Owen Mac- Kevett, slightly ; Edward Tully, severely. W. L. PAKENHAII, Adjutant-General. FOREIGN OFFICE, DEC. 20. The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Friedrich Wilhelm Jansen as Consul at Melbourne for the Free Flansea,tic City of Bremen. NEW WRIT. The G'azette of this evening contains a notice that the Speaker shall issue a warrant to the Clerk of the Crown to make out A new writ for electing a member for the city of Lincoln, in the room of the late Charles De Laet Waldo Sibthorp, Esq., in fourteen days. BOARD F TRADE, WEIITEHALL, DEC. 24. The Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a despatch from her Majesty's Consul at Jassy, report. ing that the Imperial Government of the Sultan has per mitted the export of timber and salt from Moldavia, by way of the Danube, subject to the regulations, of which the following, is a translation, and which have been framed with a view to prevent the export of the articles in (pes tles. to Russia. . . ARTS I.—Any person, desiring to export timber will be required, in the first instance, to make a declaration in writing at the Custom House (Perialabie), at Galatz, in which declaration it will be necessary to name the port of destination. ART. ll.—On receipt of this declaration the Custom/ will, through the Captain of the Port, proceed to verify : let. The quantity of timber to to exported. 2d. Its quality. 3d. The name of the vessel employed for the purpose ol transport, and that of the captain. 4th. The flag of the vessel ; and sth. The value of the timber to bo exported. ART. lll.—These particulars being obtained by the Cap tain of the Port, it will be necessary for the exporter to deposit at the Custom-house -Ist. A written security from a respectable merchant do mesticated at Galatz, to the effect that, in default of production at the Custom-house, at the expiration of five months, proof that the said timber has been landed at the port indicated as its destination, the person so guaranteeing shall be held liable for the payment to the Custom-house of a sum equivalent to double the value of tho timber. 2dly. A written declaration to the following effect : " For such quantity and such kind of timber which, according to my written demand, addressed to the Honourable Board of Customs (Perialabie), bearing date tho , I hare shipped on board the ship , under the flag Captain, to the port of of such empire or kingdom, &c., &e., I, the undersigned, do hereby engage not to unload the said timber in any port other than the above mentioned, and under no circumstances in any port situate in the territory of Russia. To this effect, fur the security of the Moldavian Government, I have this day deposited with the Honourable Board of Customs (Perialabie) the written guarantee of Mr. ,in the manner prescribed. Moreover, in proof of the entire fulfilment of my engagement above mentioned, I undertake to lay before the Honour able Board of Customs, before the expiration of five months from the present date, a certificate from the Custom House of the port of destination of such tim ber, verifying that at such a date tho said timber, in quantity and quality as before mentioned, has been truly discharged iu the said port, from the said ship Captain . If at the above-named date I do not produce such certificate aforementioned in due form, such failure to produce such certificate shall be held as proof that the said timber has been exported to a prohibited port, and iu such case the person who shall have held himself security on my - 1 - 11 hn 0 , 11 , .1 ' , D.' , to nay the amount named in the bond. Art. Dr.—Upon the delivery of such a declaration, which must be authenticated by the Board of Customs, the said Boma shall deliver to the exporter a certificate in due form, in which shall be repeated the purport of the above-named declaration, after which the ♦essel shall be at liberty to depart. As a guarantee against all infraction on the part of any vessel, proceedings will be adopted, as in the case of ves sels ascending the Danube to their port of destination. The above regulations shall also apply to the exporta tion of salt. WAR-OFFICE, DEC. 25. GOth Regiment of Foot— Lieutenant the ion. A. C. J. Liddell to bo Captain, by purchase, vice Earle, appointed to the Rifle Brigade. Rifle Brigade—Captain Charles William Earle, from the 6th Foot, to be Captain, vice Drummond, who re tires. COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY TILE QUEEN. 4th or Royal South Middlesex Regiment of Militia— The Hon. Charles Grimston, late Coldstream Guards, to he Adjutant, from the 10th October, vice Prosser, re signed. Ist West York (Rifles) Regiment of Militia—Algernon Preston, Esq . , to bo Paymaster, vice John Matcham Isaac, resigned. Royal North Gloucester Fegiment of Militia —John Gorman, Gent., to be Quartermaster. COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORD-LIEUTENANTS. County of Berks —Sir Charles Russell, Bart., to be De puty Lieutenant. Royal Wiltshire Militia—Samuel Heathcote, Gent., to be Ensign. Royal Cornwall and Devon Miners Regiment of Militia —Second Lieutenant Reuben Frederick Magor to bo First Lieutenant. [The following appointments are substituted for those which appeared in the Gazette of Tuesday the 18th De cember last.] Royal North Lincoln Militia—Ensign Walter Stewart Brown to be Lieutenant, vice Mason, appointed Ensign 82d Foot; Ensign William Lengstaffe, jun. to be Lieute nant, vice McDakin, appointed Ensi gn , 42d Foot ; Ensign Charles Keyworth to be Lieutenant, vice Deane, resigned; Ensign Messing Thomas Dutton to be Lieutenant, vice Burton, appointed Ensign 14th Foot. BANKRUPTCY ANNULLED. John Da,nks, timber merchant, Great Bridge, Stafford. BANKRUPTS. Gustav Hasse, merchant, Fonchurch-street, to surren der, Jan. 4, at 12, and Feb. 8, at half-past 11, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Carman, official assignee, Alder inanbury ; Lawrence, Plows, and Boyer, Old Jewry-cham bers, Old Jewry. James Woodroffe, licensed victualler, White Lion, Hol born, Jan. 4, at half-past H, and Feb. 8, at 12, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Carman, official assignee, Alder inanbury ; Ovorbury and Peek, Old Jewry. James Thomas Murray, pianoforte maker, LowerJames street, Golden-square, Jan. 5, at 12, and Feb. 8, at half past 11, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee, Guildhall-chambers ; Linklaters and Rackwood, Sise-lano. Joseph Henry Wettoue, stationer, Oxford-street, Jan. 5 and Feb. 8, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Nicholsou, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Soarman, Coleman-street, City. Charles Sharp, ironmonger, Albion-road east, Stoke Newington, Jan. 8, at two, and Feb. 5, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Sam brook-court ; Taylor, Collisson, and Woodward, Bedford row ; Woodward, March, Ely, Cambridgeshire. Thomas Heywood and John Heywood, lace warehouse man, Wood-street, Choapsido, Dec. 29, at twelve, and Jan. 25, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee, Guildhall-chambers ; Mason and Sturt, Greshani• street, City ; Maples, Nottingham. Thomas H enr y Ryland, wood turner, Warwick, Jan. 16, and Feb. 6, at half-past ten, at the Birmi ng h am Dis trict Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham ; Mottoram and Knight, Birmingham. Timothy Spray, lace manufacturer, Lenten, Notting ham, Jan. 8 and 29, at half-past ton, at the Nottingham District Court. Harris, official assignee, Nottingham ; Brewster and Son, Nottingham ; Motteram and Knight, Birmingham. Patrick Farrell, contractor, Broughton Works, Salford, Jan. 9 and Feb. 4, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Pott, official assignee, Manchester; Sala, Worth ington, and Shipman, Manchester. John Newsome, woollen manufacturer, Dewsbury, Jae. 14 and Feb. 11, at twelve, at the District Court of Leeds. Hope, official assignee, Leeds; Chadwick, Dewsbury; Bar ret, Leeds. James William Gregory, grocer, Halifax, Yorkshire, Jan. 14, an.? Feb. 11, at half-past twelve, at the Leeds District Court. Hope, official assignee, Leeds ; Bennett, Halifax; Bond and Barwick, Leeds. John Pattinson, builder, Bishop Wearmouth, Durham, Jan. 8, and Feb. 15, at twelve, at the Newcastle•upon- Tyne District Court. Baker, official assignee, Newcastle upon-Tyne ; Kidson, Sunderland. John Richardson, brewer, Cockermoutb, Cumberland, Jan. 8, and Feb. 12, at eleven, at the Newcastle-upon- Tyne District Court. Baker, official assignee, Newcastle upon-Tyne; Steel and Waugh, Cockermouth ; W a t son , Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Bischoft, Cox, and 13 ompas, Cole man•street, City. SCOTCH SEQUESTR4IONS. Hugh Reid, accountant and builder, Ayr. William Caldwell, draper, Coldstream. Duncan Maclennan, solicitor, Inverness. Matthew Henry Hunt, wholesate woollen warehouse man, Glasgow. FATAL ACCIDENTS AT THE DUFF.RYN COLLIERIES. Two accidents, similar in character, and both of them attended with fatal consequences, occurred last week, at the Duffryn Colliers, Glamorganshire. The first occurred to a miner named Wm. Thomas, who was engaged in sinking a pit, the workmen engaged in which operation, as well as the materials, were raised ansi lowered by the ordinary means of the bucket. It was part of the de• ceased man's duty to watch the bucket, and as he was doing so, it unfortunately, while descending, touched a wall of the shaft, and a large stone was detached, which fell upon the unfortunate man, striking him OR the fore head, and killing him almost instantaneously. The second accident occurred in the Duffryn Vale Col• liery, to a young man, named Thomas Jones ; he was working in a stall, in company with two other miners, when suddenly, and without warning, between one and two tons of coal fell in upon him, burying him beneath the mass. The men who were working with him, and and who had a miraculous escape, as the stuff fell within a yard or two of them, immediately set to work to re lease him from his distressing position; and after some exertion they succeeded in getting him out alive. The blocks of coal had, however, injured him severely, and he died in a short time afterwards. PRIOfI OF SHAR.ES IN BANKS, ASSURANCE, AND OTHER COM- PANIES' STOCK. From Me Official Ltst. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY EVENING. LONDON, MONDAY, DEC. 24, 1855. GAS-LIGIIT AND COKE COMPANIES. Dividend Amount Name of Company. per of Paid. Price. Annum. i Share. X i. d. 4 e. d. British .• •••••••• •• •• ._Ditto I roincial .• .. 71 . 1 i2O 9 0 20 0 0 23 Brighton . ............Si. 120 0 0 29 0 0 15 City of London .. •• •• 41. Os. 1100 0 0 150 0 0 Continental (4th Cap.) . 0 20 0 0 Equitable.. .. ...... •• 2/. 10 s . 1 50 0 0 all $3% Great Central .. •• .. . 81. per cent. 110 0 0 all 1 13j Imperial .. •......... 101. & bonus. 50 0 0 all 85 Independent .......•• 51. 140 0 0 19 ... London•• ............ 30 0 0 II .-... Do., Parl. Preference 61. per cent. 1 25 0 0 10 . Ptcenix ............. 41. per cent. 160 0 0 52 0 0 Ratcliff ..... ....... 41. 100 0 0 16 n o 16 United General .• •• •• 21. IN. 150 0 0 all Westminster Chartered 41 per cent, : 50 0 0 19 Ditto, New .... —••— 150 0 0 10 o 0 I I 10 u o WATER-WORKS. Dividend Amount Name of Company, per of Paid. Price. Annum. Share. d. East London - Grand Junction .... • • 41. per cn t. 50 0 0 all - Kent ...... .... - - 1 18 1 4 Lambeth - 100 0 0 - - Newßiver Company I 21. 10s. - - Southwark & Vauxhll 51. per cnt. 100 0 0 - 893{ West Middlesex - 91 BRIDGES. Dividend Amount Name of Company. t per of raid. Price. Annum. Share. A a. d. £ a. d. lltingerfard - - - 19 Southwark ...... • - 100 0 0 - - Ditto New of 7% p.c ll. per cent. 50 0 0 - - Waterloo - 100 0 0 - - Ditto Old Ann. of 8/. 11. 14s. Bd. 60 0 0 - - Ditto Nw ditto of 7/. 11. 10s. 4d. 40 0 0 - - Vauxhall - 21 1 DOCKS Dividend Amount Name of Company, per of Paid. Price. Annum. Share. --- -- X s. d. X s. 4. Commercial .......... 51. pr cent. Stock. Stock. - East and West India.. 61. pr rent. Stock. - - East Country 2os. per sh. -•-•• - London .- . • •. .. - Ditto Bonds 4l. per cent. - - - St. Katharine - - onthampton - Victoria ...... • 151. percent. 20 0 0 10 0 5 I 23 JOINT-STOCK BANKS. ' Dividend Amount Name of Company. per of Paid. Price. Annum. Share. ----' £ a. d. £ a. d. Australasia........... 20/. per cent. 40 0 0 all 0034 British North American SI. per cent. 50 0 0 •, 66 Commercial of London. 101. per cent. )100 0 0 20 0 0 - Colonial - - .......... 51. per cent, 100 0 0 25 0 0 - E0nian................ 6/. per cent. 25 0 0 25 0 0 - Lond. Char. Bk. of Aus. - 20 0 0 all 0 - London and County - 101. per cent. 50 0 0 20 0 0 - Londii an d Westmin3tr 1 141. per cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 - London Joint• Stock ... 121. per cent. 50 0 0 10 0 0 3134 L'rovinc'.al of Ireland.. I 81. per cent. 100 0 0 25 0 0 - Ditto, New. • • ...... , 81. per cent. 10 0 0 all - Nationr.l of Ireland.... 161. per cent. 50 0 0 22 10 0 - Nat. Provincial of Eng. IV. per cent. 100 0 0 35 0 0 - Ditto. New .. - .... 81. per cent. 20 0 0 10 (1 0 -- Orientui Bank Corpora. 'P.p. ct.Bclis. 25 0 0 all - South Australia ...... 14/ p.ct.SE. be. 25 0 0 " ---- Union of Australia •• .• 301. per cent. 25 0 0 ef 74 1 % Ditto .............. 301. per cent. - 210 0 814 Onion of L0nd0n...... 20'. per cent. 50 0 0 10 0 0 3034 Union of Madrid ... • • I - 40 0 0 all - CANALS. per n , Dividend Names of „a Dividend Price Na m" ''' /..' Companies. A per Companies. ce . Price. .o ' OD Annum. Annum.co X 1 . f - X _ Ashtn &Oldh 93 71. p. ct. 145 Macclesfield. 100 21. 10s. 51 BarnslO7•• ••,160 Neath ...• • • 100 161. DrkiikStAbrg 150 41. Oxford.... • • 100 isirninignam .0 41. 90 Peak Forest. 78 51. Os. 76 Coventry.... 100 2.51. Regen Vs ••• • 30 11 14% Derby ••• •• 100 6/. 15s. 84 Rochdale.. • • 85 11 , 1 0s. 7 6 Ellsmre&Chsl 69 2•X p. ct. Somrset Coal 140' DrandJunetn 100 3/. pr.ct. 37 Do. Lk FdSt 121 Do.. 6 pr.Ct.l 10 61. pr. ct. 11% Stfirti &Wore 1 40 1 281. 420 Grand Surrey 100 41. Shrewsbury.. 125 1 Grand Union 100' 11.0 s. Stonrbridge.. 145 121. 290 Kennt & Avni 39 6s. Od. 6% Severn and Lancaster .. 1001 Wy e Rail. 126 i 21 . 28 Leeds &Li vrp 100 231. 470 Warwick & 7 Leicester ...• 1001 Si. 4914 Birming. .1 1001 2/. 28 Leicstr &Nth 83 ---• Warwick & 1 21• 10 LoughLorogh 142 70/. 550 Napton.. j 100 Monmoutheh 1001 Worcstr & / Mntgmerysh 100 Eirming 3 78 1 91. 21 Meltnstwbry 100, Wilts & Brks —, 10s. 04. 4,4 A INSURANCE COMPANIES. a Dividend Anionnt Name of Company, per of Paid. I Price. ~. Annum. Share. - - £ a. d. £ e. d. Albion •••••••••• •• .• 3/. Ws. 500 0 0 50 0 0 83 -' , Alliance Brit. and For. 7/. 14 s. 6 d. b s. 100 0 0 11 9 0 16A Ditto Marine ....• .. 61. p.c. & bs. 100 0 0 25 0 0 42 ' Anchor .........• -. . 6 per cent. 5 0 1 0 0 - Atlas . 1 Argus Life ....... • ••• 41. per cent. 100 • 0 25 0 0 - nritish Commercial .. 71. 10s. 50 0 0 60 0 6 % Clertel..iled.& Gen• Life Apr ct. & bs. 100 0 0 10 0 0 2l .. County ....., ...... • • 4/. 100 0 0 10 0 0 120 Crown -•• • • 17s. Od 50 0 0 50 0 1834 Eagle . . - Equity and Law...... 4 1 4 per cent. 100 0 0 5 0 I 5% . European Life l/. 20 0 0 all la 1 4 General.... - Globe ... • • .... 51. per cent. Stock. 106 Guardian ............ 51. per cent. 100 0 0 47 6 0 50% Imperial Fire......... 12/. per cent. 500 0 0, 50 0 0 340 Imperial Life ..... .... 12s. 100 0 0 10 0 0 IN Indemnity Marine.... 11.3 s kV. 100 0 I 20 0 g 77 Law Fire .......... - 2s. & 28. bs. 100 0 0 210 0 - Law Llte..• .......... - 100 0 s' 10 0 • 59 Legal and General Life -- 50 0 0 2 a 0 ev 4 London ., London Ship. - Marine.- .. .......... 18s.per shars 100 0 0 28 0 0 40 Med. Irvlid & Gen. Life 434 /. per et" 50 0 0 2 0 0 314 Minerva ............ sp. ct. & be. 20 0 0 2 • g 6 Monarch •••• • • •• .... - 5 0 0 1 0 0 National Loan Fund.. 51. per cent. 20 0 0 210 0 - Palladium Life ... ..... 51. per cent. 50 0 0 210 0 Bto Pelican . ..... .... .... - - - 451,4 Phcenix - _ - 180 Profesrional Life...... '5l. p er cent. 5 0 010 0 Provident Life.. -.• • • 1/. ss. & bs. 100 0 0 10 0 0 3834 Rock Life-- - ....., 78. 5 3 0 910 0 - Royal Exchange •••••• 101. per cent. Stock. all 230 Sun Fire • • • • • • 61. 10s. - Ditto Life ..... 1/. 145. - OP 55 United Kingdom .. • • 41. p. et. & be., 20 0 0 4 0 0 - Universal Life ... Victoria Life ......., 51. per cent. 1 - 412 6 5% - - ------- - MISCELLANEOUS. Dividend • Amount Name of Company, per of Paid. Price. Annum. Su aro. --- 4 ts. d. £ e. d. Assam Tea .......... si. 50 0 0 20 0 0 - Auctien Mart •• .. •• .• 2 1 4 per cent. 50 0 0 - - Australian Agriculturl U. la. 100 0 0 17 10 0 2834 Australian Trust .... 8/. per cent. - ,25 0 0 Australian Royal Mall 51. 10 0 0 all - Anglo-Mexican Mint.. IL 10s. 10 0 0 all British American Land 15s. - 40 0 0 Canada ....... •• •• .. GI. percent. 100 0 0 32 10 0 13934 Do. 5 per cent Bonds 5/. per cent. - - - Ditto, 6 per cent. • • 61. per cent. - - 110 City Navigation Bonds - - - - Electric Telegraph .. 6 per cent. 25 0 0 24 0 0 - Ditto .• •• •• •• •• •• - - - - Equitable Reversionry 71 pr. cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 105 Ditto New ........ - 50 0 o'l7 10 0 - Gen. Revers. & Invest. sp.c. & bs, 100 0 0 , 100 0 0 Gen •SteamNavigatton 10 p ct. 15 0 0 14 0 0 - Hudson's 8ay........ - Stock. 1 - - Hangerford .......... 2/. Sc. 100 0 0 100 0 0 - London Institution . •• - - - London Revereionary 51per cent. 15 0 I 12 all o .....-.., ( Russell Institution •-..- _. Price'sPatentCand. Co 10/. per cent. 20 0 0 17 10 25 Reversionary Int. Soc. 4341. pr cent. 100 0 0 ,100 0 90 Royal Mail Steam.... 41. p. share. 100 0 0i 60 0 0 77 South Australian Land 6/. per cent. 25 00 I all Trust and Loan Comp. - I Upper Canada .. •• - 20 00) 8 0 0 - 1 LIST OF SCOTTIE" COMPANIES' PRICES. Dividend Amount Name of Company, per of Paid. Price. Annum, Share. d d Rank of Scotland ..•• 71. per cent. 10 0 0 0 . 100 0 0 . 1821 0 British Linen Company 81. per cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 2241 0 Caledonian Bank ...•. 8/. per cent. 10 0 0 210 0 31. 188 City of Glasgow Bank 51. per cent. 10 0 0 10 0 0 121 Os Clydesdale Bank •• •• 53.;1. p cent. 20 0 e 10 0 0 2 14s Commercial Bank .. 71. per cent..s7o 0 0 100 0 0 2221 Cs Eastern 8ank........ 61. per cent. 25 0 0 10 0 0 Edinl). & p cent. 5 0 0 li 0 0 41. 19s Exchange Bilk of Scot.. National Bank .. •• .. 634 per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 17415 s North of Scotland Bank 61. percent 20 0 0 910 0 U. 15s Royal Bank of S cotl. 51. per cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 13410 s Union Bank of Scot. .. 81. per cent. 100 0 0 60 0 0 921 58 Western flank •....... 71. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 74/ Os Alliance Fire and Lire_ 8%1.pr cent. 100 0 0 II 0 0 18110 s British Guarantee ... 41. per cent. 10 0 0 2 0 0 U. 8s Caledonian Fire Insur . 10c.per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 25110 s City of Glasgow Lite .. 61. per cent. 0 0 9 0 0 41. 83 CO onial 1.1 1e ......... 51. per cent. 50 0 0 1 0 0 51. 55 Edinburgh Life Insur. 61. percent. 100 0 0 15 0 0 271 0 5 Eng. & Scot, Law Life 51.p0r cent. 50 0 0 3 5 0 41. 8s Life Assac. o f3cetiAid 61. per cent. 10 0 0 110 0 61 10 s National Fire and Life 61. per cent. 10 0 0 1 0 Nortk British Insur... 71. p er cen t. 2 00 0 0 20 0 321108 0 8 , Scottish Union Insrnc. 7 1 ,41. prcent. 20 0 0 1 Standard Life •• ••:. • • 51. per cent. 50 0 0 7 0 0 201108 0 21. Os United Dip. Assurance 61, per oat. 10 S Y Y ° THE KING OF SARDINIA AND TEE DISSEATERS. ADDRESS OF THE PROTESTANT DISSENTING MINISTERS TO THE KING OF SARDINIA. To his Majesty Victor Emmanuel 11., King of Sardinia. May it please your Majesty,—The general body of Pro testant Dissenting ministers of the three denominations (Presbyterian, Independent, and Baptist), residing in and around the cities of London and Westminster, a body from its earliest origin identified with the maintenance and pro gress of religions liberty, and enjoying the privilege of ad mission to the presence of the successive Sovereigns of these realms, hail the visit of your Majesty to this metropo lis as the honoured guest and ally of our Sovereign, her Majesty Queen Victoria, and regard it as an assurance of continued amity and the free intercourse of the people of bath notions in promoting commerce, liberty, and the best interests of society. We have been warmly interested in the recent history of the kingdom over which your Majesty has been called to reign. To Italy, her kingdoms and republics, has the civilised world looked as the early homes of learning, re finement, and liberty. But Sardinia, under your Majesty's reign, has alone generously responded to the expectations and necessities of the times. Iler people and their rulers have, with a calm moderation, sought her prosperity, .The establishment and administration of constitutional govern ment—the recognition of the independence of the Churches of the Waldenses, and of the freedom of conscience and worship of all your subjects—the emancipation of your people from the wide-spread influence of monastic esta blishments and the maintenance of civil government nil. restricted by ecclesiastical domination, have been regarded by the members of this body as auguries of the highest good for all Italy and Europe ; and they would thus ex press their admiration and gratitude for the noble and persevering adherence to the principles of liberty evinced by your Majesty. We have not been unmoved by the severe afilictions which, under the providence of a gi :miens God, your Majesty has been called to endure, and our prayer is that prolonged life may be granted to your Majesty for the welfare of your people and the prosperity of your kingdom ; that your Majesty's reign may be prosperous, and that your heart may be cheered by the purest consolations of true religion as revealed in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Signed by order and on behalf of the general body, this, 31 day of December, 1855. J. HOWARD lIINTON, M.A., Chain n. JOHN KENNEDY, Secretary. REPLY FROM THE SARDINIAN AMBASSADOR. (Translation.) TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GENERAL BODY OF DISSENTING MINISTERS, Stc. Mr. Chairman,—ln granting to his States constitutional government, King Charles Albert intended to establish the perfect equality and the civil emancipation of all religions professions. - His successor has worthily followed his example. lam satisfied, consequently, that I convey to you the senti ments of the King in thanking yon for the congratulations and good wishes which you have addressod to him on the occasion of his visit to England ; and I am confident that it is with great satisfaction that his Majesty has seen the course of imperial toleration which, from the commence ment of his reign, he has proposed to himself, so perfectly approved by the public opinion of this country. Be pleased to accept, Mr. Chairman, the assurance of my high consideration. Marquis D'AZEGLIO, th• Minister of Sardinia. 23, Park-lane, London, Dec. 17, 1855. Country Markets. NORWICH—DEc. 22. The supply of wheat to-day has been tolerably good, and the samples somewh a t i m p rove d i n condition. The trade. nevertheless, ruled dull, and a reduction of is to 2s per qr. had to bo submitted to. There was a fair show of barley, and prices were quoted is to 2s lower. Oats, beans, and peas unaltered in value. Flour a dull sale, at late rates. YARMOUTH-DEC. 22. Very little corn shown this week—only from Camera' samples. Whoat is rather cheaper for ordinary parcels; but the best samples are firm, and aro wanted by our mil lers. Barley a slow sale, and Is per qr. lower. Beans and peas fully as dear. Oats in better supply, and ordinal' lots rather lower. COLCHESTER— DEC. 22. The supply of wheat was not so large ; tho condition is improved by the frosty weather, but the trade was not active, and last week's prices were barely supported for the best samples. Barley was plentiful, and may be noted per sir. cheaper. Beaus and peas wore the turn in favour of the buyer. Prices to-daywore as follow :—Wheat, white, 80s to E6s; red, 72s to 80s ; barley, 36s to 421 s ; oats, 28s to 34s ; !pan' Mazagan, 420 to 41s ; middle and small, 44s to 500; pesos white, 54s to 56s ; grey, 448 to 46.. KIRKCALDY—DIIc. 22. We had fair supplies of wheat and oats to-day, but small , of barley. Generally sales were quick. Wheat and oats were Gd to is per qr. higher than on this day eennight; fine barley same as last day ; inferior Gd cheaper. SEABORNE MAILS. (N signifies that the malls are sent from the General Poet-oflie• the night—and M by the morning—despatch.) Day %Iwo 1111 Rat 0) Front wh at Whoa COUNTRINti. in General Pont- Port doe In , Ofileo, London.* Di spn t e h en g in...* ---..... i .! -----.. -- — America(byllrit.pack)F Every Friday •• • Liverpool .. Dec. 31 &merlon (by United fits packet) .. ........N •• • • •••• • Liverpool • Dec. 24 t merica (by U. State, packet) ..........N ••• •• !- •-• • • Southampto Dec. 29 . Australia (via South- r .... • ampton) .......... hi ...• • •. • • • - South ampto i '. - Ditto (via Marseilles) F ..:-):IAA Ditto (via Cape of OW Hops) .... .. .. .. .. N ... O'n! Wail Africa (West Coast) ..N , 13 d of the month - I Plymouth .. lan. S Alexandria ........ .. N : 8 , 9 , 2 4. & 30 01 it . I Deyer ..... Alexandria ..........lii m Y/ :4th & 20th of on•lSouthamptor ' '," Bahamas ...........3117th of tbo month Is et ith ampta , , • !, Belgium ....... ~, ..N I Daily .. .. •• • • • • • • D over ...... J a il , y B raz il ............ ~ m 1 9th o f th e month .. South amptoi fan. 16 9th of the month.. Scuthainptot Jan. IS c ßu sp en e os or Adr oo es aio . p . e .....1ii .N /talons port (Mortal Cape of Good Hope ..N Cape de Verde ......1% 9th of tho month Southamptot Jan. IS Ceylon (see India) Ceylon .. .... .. .... .. N Channel Wee ...... ..N :Sfen..WE Bl , B eTrlit • Mouthamptot Fu.Tll.BBt Chili—. .. - .. „. ~,, ..Ni2d & 17th of monti S out h ampto , Chine .... . !Once a month.... I Inn. 4 Constantinople ......r 8,13,18,23,&28 of n !Dover ..... Constantinople ....., „ 4th & 20th of mon 'floothempto• Cont. of Europe M & N Twice daily .... • Dover ..... Twieedafir Egypt (ace India) Franco ........ M& N Twice daily ...• • • Dover ..... Tw104141001/ Gibraltar ........ „hi 4,7,17,20,27 ?fm Southamptot Greece (see India) ch. ey t ewn ..........m : 2nd & 17th of mon. Soathamptoz Hamburgh ..........NlTtleetleY & Friday Lond o n ....• Havannah ...........ml2nd of the montblSouthantpton les. I.' Holland .. t. ...... .. MIDatlY • • • • • • Dover ....... OallY le I Honduras ..........mll7tu tithe month.lSouthatnrior 16thonsitill India (viaSouthampt.)M 14th 20th of mon. Plymr!uth .. Jan. 4 India (via Marsellles)lsl 9th& 25th of month ! D over ...... lonian Isles (see India)l7, 17, & 27 of monlD over.... •• Ireland ........M & N Twice daily' • • .. " flolj bead ..• TwJeOdini Lisbon.-- .. ...... 31 7,9, 17, & 27 of m.l i Southampton Jan. 15 Madeira ............M 9th of the monthlSouthamptoo Madeira ............ ic I 23d of month Halts (see India) I(alta .... - .... Jan; 4 Mauritius (soe India) Mauritius ..........N 14 th of the month w i l co ............2 4 '2nd of the month.. Southanipten Jan. 1 Naples...... ........N.sthlsth2sthormon. Dover ...... New Granada ......m24 & 17thof month Southampt on Now Zea1and.......... Illy private slip .. Various port. Uneeltall Papal s tates ........N s thlsth2sthofmon. Dover ...... p en i,,,, l , .... ~.. .. yi 7 th l7 th 2 7tbofinon. Southampt on P eru .... .. .. .. .. .. At ad A. 27th of mon; Southampton Port Natal .• • . • . e. .. N ily private ship... I V At i OUS port , Uncer ie ll slay ~............N s thisth2lsthormon, Dover .....• .., •,„.NlSthlA tll2 sthoftnon. Dover ...... 241 & 17th ofnionth South am pt on 1 & 111 nue T V u on c e n zu ny els ..... Fan Diemen's Lt; —.AI Land (set Australia) ......... W en t l a di es .... , m . 12d& 17th ot month pSotithempten II &IA mom When any of these dates fall on a Sunday, the malls will be de. ;patched on the following day. with the exception of the Indir, (Tie Southampton), and the Malta, both of which will be despatched ti preceding day. THE HOUSE or ELMORE ; A FAMILY HISTORY. VOLS.— "The House of Elmore" is no common novel, destined to be read for a season and forgotten. nit one of those tales which sink into the heart and haunt the fancy for many a day. Whatever be the faults of "The House of Elmore,"it is impossible todenytheaitker the merit of a fresh and original conception, powerful and concentrated thought, eloquent and earnest diction, and a wonderful power of arresting the interest of his readers. As a novel it is ono of the most eloquent and powerfully-written narratives that has over come under our notice ; and, if it be the author's first essay in the character of a rornancist, we have no hesitation in pre dicting him destined to occupy a foremost place amid the most distinguished writers of fiction.—lferrtiny Post. BIRTHS. Olt A SON. On the 23d inst., at 30, Upper Brook street, Mrs. Hugh Seymour. On the 22d inst., at the Villa, Merstham Surrey, the wife of Thoma s P o p e , E sq., of the Coal Exchange, Lon don. OF A DATICITER. On the 22d inst., at Herongate, Brentwood, the wife of Arthur Z. Button, Esq. On the 21st inst., at St. Helier's, Jersey, the wifo of G. Chester, Esq., retired H.E.I.C.S. MARRIED. On the 20th inst., at Aughrim Church, E. H. Clarke, Esq., of Hyde Hall, Cheshire, to Maria Anne, daughter of T. Wade, Esq., of Fairfield Galway. On the 20th inst., at th e CaMaud, Manchester, Mr. E. Bancroft, of London, to Frances Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. .e. S. Dayiss, of Greenheye, Manchester. DIED. Croydon, James Rep a • n O g n e ther, Esq., 23d 'e office, aged 72. l i a n t s e t. o , f a t is h D e p up e r i : a 's m -h i l On the 23d inst., at 3, Came , 11 . Bow road, Ar thur Freeman, of 5, Fenohurc h-buildings, city, aged SD. On the 22d inst., at 38, Alfred-street, Bedford-square, James Cates, Esq., f or forty-five years of the British Museum, aged 78. On the 23d inst., in Groat Cum berland-place, lamp, widow of th late Slr John Trollop s, B art., of Cosewiols, Lincolnshire, e aged 70. On the 21st inst., at Blackheath, Grace Elizabeth, widow of tho late of waiharap Adm ~ rat Sir H arry Burrard N ea l e , Bt ., G .C.8., ton Hants. On the 2 3d inst., at Cardiff, John Yerbnry Towgood, Esq., aged : 5. On the 23d inst., Frank, the second son of George Clay, Esq., of Hampton Court, aged 17. On the 21st inst., at Albion-terrace, Ch e l sea , M r. W . W . Marshall, formerly of York-buildings, New-road, aged 62. LONDON: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNt ; of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county of 111 4dloatx, Wednesday, Deeeralior 26,1850, C` Bs tabl bor, lisbi scrit Capital CERAM Me Robert Conn Lo Con Vacossi baino Fredori Edwin August Paris Diarzion Th. Hai In Paris In Lond The a deposit the nem share m allotted Forma parry's T co No Al day nexi Compi 26, 1856