The Sun. — London, England, 1855-11-23 00:00:00

JITLLIEN'S CONCERTS. - ROYAL • ITALT I.N OPERA, COVENT-GARDE:W. —Last Week but Three.—The New Quadrille THE FALL of. SW3ASTOPOL.— The P:ogrammo for Tif IS EVENING (Friday, Nov_ 23) will include: —Weber's Overture to Der Freischutz (for the isecond time) ; L'Etoile du Nord Quadrille (for the l ast time) Scher z o Presto from Beethoven's Symphony in A ; Cavatina from 11 TrOYLltOre, and " Ah non gin ;e," surg by Madame Gassier ; L ucrezia Borgia Valse(for the first time this season) ; Solo, Flute , H err Reichardt ; M. Julhen's New Grand Quadrille, entitled TIIE FALL OF SEBKSTOPOL, assisted by the military Bands ; Grand Operatic Selection from Les Huguenots;; the Sleigh Polka; the Allegro and Storm from Beetho ven's Pastoral Symphony ; Solo, Oboe, by 31. Lavigne; and Galop, 'Vive l'Empereur. Commence at 8. Promenade and boxes, Is.; dress circle, Is. 60.; private boses, 123. and £1 ls. THEA.TRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, win to performed the comic drama calk(' USED UP. Followed y COOL AS A CUCUMBER, in which Mr. C. Ma ewe, &c., appear. To be followed by NITOCRIS. Characters by Messrs. E. F. Ed gar, Stuart, B. Sullivan, G. Wild, C. Vincent, &c.; Miss Glyn, Mrs. o e thy, Miss lie Vere, Miss Anderton, Miss Cleveland, &C. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Under the Management of Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING. Will be performed ROMEO AND JULIET. Romeo, Miss Cash man; supported by Messrs. Howe, W. Farren, and Compton Juliet, Bliss Swamborough. Followed by TIIE LITTLE TREASURE. To conclude with A KISS IN THE DARK. ROYAL PRINCESS'S T EIEAT RE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of rf Ir. CE(AILLES K. AN. THIS EVENING Will be performed DON'T JYDGE BY APPEARANCES. After which, KING HENRY THE EIGH TH. To conclude with A GAME OF ROMPS. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPIII. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, Will be performed MARIE DUCA.NGE ; or, The Jersey Girl. Follswed by VALENTINE AND ORSON. To conclude with the laughable Farce of BETSY B AKER. ROYAL LYCEUM TILEATRE. Leese% Mr. J. H. Anderson, Id, Norfolk-street, Strand. Increased Attractions, and success in equal ratio THIS, AND EVERY EVE:NENG, at Eight o'Clock, Will We nrcsented, with entirely New and tfagniflcent Appoint unnt4, If 1.(1!C and IfYSTERY, in twelve acts, arranged in tyro parts, by PrAssor Anderson. -- • - . _ After which, the .tartlinz illustrations of Spirit-Rapping. HALF AN JIO It WI EI TELE iPIRIT: 4 , being the most surprising and lateresting series of experiments ever given within the walls of any theatre. - - - Revival, in an improved form, of the astounding novelty which tArtied London 10 years ago, the GREAT GUN TRICK 1 Priel3 or filinl33lon:—Private P.MCC3, I?. 113. 61. and l?. Is. ; Orchestra gtalls, 43.: Dress BOXO3, 33.; Upper Boxei, 23.; Pit, 13. ; Gallery, 61. No Half-price. nox-oftl:e open from II to 5 Gram] Morninz Performance on Saturday Next at Two o'Clock. Doors open at Half-past One. r:OYAL STRAND TIIEATRE. Under the direction of Mr. Payne. THIS EVENING, Will be performe 1 NICHOLAS NICKLEDY. After which, a SP BALLET, by the Spanish Dancers. Followed by NITOCIIIS. To conclude with TIIE LADIES' CLUB. R3YAL 01.Y1IPIC THEATRE. TI EVENING, Will 139 presentel, TO OBLIGE 13 ?,NS'OY, in which me.,, E nery, F. Robson, i.esiie, Mrs. Stirling, ani Miss Ternatt will appear After which, S nu, WAT ERA DEEP. Followed by CATC RING A MERMAID. #STLEY'S ROYAL AMPIIITUEXTRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Wm. Cooke. THIS EVENING. Mademoiselle CLEMENTINE SOULLIF.R, the greatest Eques trian Artiste in the World ! (Vide " Times," 13th Nov.) Mr. W. Cookes Leviathan PROVINCIAL EQUESTRIAN ESTABLISHMENT, during this week orgy ! Also, the Spectacle, The FALL of .;14:1 - 1AS roPOL ! After which, the GEMS of the CIRCLE ; with the Magnificent Act of Mile. Souther, and the Performance of the Provincial Esta blishment; with other Entertainments. Boz-.orrice open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. Wait. Equestrian Direetor, iv: Cooke. Jun. FIIGEI WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TEtT DAY—Morn. 2) min. aft. I—Evening 24 min. aft. 1 To-lionzow—Morn. 46 min.aft. 1 —Evening El min. aft. 2 THE WEATFIER.—SuN Orrin, Nov. 23. TIMMOXIETER, IN TIM SHIM --1.1 . , - ;neat ithcc noon yeatoragy. 40 --,a,egt morning and during the night. 93 this day at n 007.1. BAROMETER, 20.83. WlM—W.N.W.—Light, with fine, dull weather. 4 ,4 ) s ~`'~~J ~~ ~ c >3lin, LONDON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1855. [3 Lord JOHN RUSSELL also among the Volun taries ? lie who has defended Church Rates as the outwork of the Crown and the Constitution— he who taunted Ministers, not supported by State endowments, with preaching to please, because they preached to live—he who even joined in giving up the appropriation, clause, which would merely have applied improved values of the pro perty of the sinecure Church of Ireland to general Irish education in that Protestant-ridden country. In the Church-rate debate last Session Lark! JOAN RUSSELL taunted Lord STANLEY, apparently envying him a just reputation for honest and solid liberality, with the remark, that "his ar guments fairly carried out would lead to Volun taryism." The sarcasm, for such it was meant to be, was unfelt by the liberal Tory IJ)rd. He took the case before him on its merits ; he suffered nc party considerations, no apprehensions that a just judgment on the particular question raised might interfere with some old prejudice or foregone c m elusion, to bias his decision ; he acted on the old and trite adage, Fiat jastitia ruat codum ' and voted for the abolition of Chur c h Rates. Lord JOHN, who seemed that evening to have caught the mantle, or, we should rather say, the Whi g , of Lord ELDON—for most certainly he spoke not by inspiration, butt in the most unprophetic nar rowness of v i s i on —Lord JoiaN trembles for Monarchy and the U pp er House if the Rector epuld no longer seize the Quaker's goods to pay for washing his surplice, and for his sacramental Wine. Woe to the State when the symbols of the sacred passion were no longer purchased by compulsion of conscience, even to fine and impri unment. Lord STANLLY may now enjoy the et to It was not in the Senate House, it is true, but it was in a read lecture, at an immense public meet ing at Exeter-hall, and with three or four thou sand-of the youth of London before him, that Lord JOHN RUSSELL delivered himself of senti ments the only fair result of which is the Volun tarY sYstem. Having combated—easy work now —.the intense bigotry of the great Dr. JOHNSON ; having raised a laugh at the logical Doctor's re mark " that the magistrate has a right to enforce what he thinks, and he who is conscious of the truth has a right to mi ff er ; —his Lordship's pen an d tongue warning, h e , iolaiing, " Why not per mit the free circulation of truth and error ; leave to truth its own all-sufficient armour, and to error its own stratagems and delusions; leave argument to be met by argument, assettion by in quiry." Aga i n :—" Here, in fact, h, th e turning point of the whole question. Dr. JOHNSON and others contend that Governm ents have the right and duty to control their subjects as parents control children. The friends of Reli gious Liberty contend that Governments have no such right, and have no special capacity to fit them for the task." We may safely appeal to any Tolunte.ry whether lie desires any better basis for his arguments, and whether, as Lord JOHN laughed at the Doctor's logic, Lord JOHN'S might not be ridiculed with equal justice, if he defends henceforth State endowments of religion, and egpeeially the enforcement by the State of pay ments for what King, Lords, and Commons de clare to be State-truth. If truth is really to be "left to be its own sufticient armour," what need of the armour of THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EvENING - ., NOVEMBER 23, 1855. Acts of- Parliament, of Royal Charters, or compul sory endowments t Indeed the endowment of one creed, like bounties in commerce, is virtual hostility to other creeds. We should like to see JouN BRIGHT, and Lord JOHN engaged in a good round duel after this ex-Ministerial flourish. It would be most entertaining to see the quibbles and evasions of the aristocratic Whig Churchman unmercifully smashed by the middle class and Radical Quaker. He would wield against him, too, not only the irrevocable sen tences we have quoted, but the whole drift and tenor of his lecture ; for it chiefly consisted of an exhibition of the obstacles opposed to moral and religious progress, by Governments overstepping the proper bounds of their office. He had indeed interposed a single sentence in favour of the "pro motion of religion and instruction of the young by public grant or endowment," with the qualifi cation, however, " that it may be matter of some question ;" of how much question it could not be difficult to show if truth is to be left "to its own sufficient armour," and if Governments " have no special capacity to fit them for the task" of control in matters of religion. We are not so perverse as to suppose that Lord JOHN will now depart from the practice of a life, and, were h• in office again, abide by what he s aid in opposition. It is only in the latter position that he puts forth his horns and seems to mean a movement ; once on the Treasury Benches he dra's s them within his oficial shell, and makes all snug again. After all it is obvious to thinking ob servers, that language like that of Lord STANLEY on the one side, and Lord JOHN RUSSELL on th• other, is the twilight of a great ecclesiastical change. It bears, to our mind, the same relation to our ecclesiastical future as PBEL'S ominous declaration to the Tory squires of every man's right to buy in the cheapest market and sell in the dearest did to our then commercial future. Events may accelerate or retard coming altera tions, but that they will come is evident when our STANLRYS and RUSSSLLS express such views. We are well pleased to notice some signs of mechanical vigour in the War Department. In ♦entions are getting a trial at last. The new pontoon rafts, although there are some reasons to doubt the sufficiency of the thin copper employed to resist the shock of the discharge of a large mor tar, are a move, as a trial at least, in the right direction. If copper does not answer, ingenuity may devise something else. Better a dozen fail ures than lose one efficient invention—a rule we would certainly apply to Lord DUNDONALD'S plans. We hear nothing yet of our following France in building floating batteries. How is this ? Not a moment should be lost. Fifty of them would be a cheap preparation for the Baltic, if cheap ness is to be tested by efficiency ; and more are also needed in the Black Sea. We read of a gun-boat built at Liverpool in an in credibly short time. Why are not all our great shipbuilding ports called upon in like manner ? Have we, then, actually secured the gun-boats of Sweden ? If we could but hope that, we might probably employ the money better in enabling Sweden to man her ex cellent gun-boats than in building many for our selves. We much fear, however, that all reports from Sweden are too goDd to be true. It seems very evident what the French EMPEROR. wishes of that power, but Lord PALMERSTON has to ask, What say the COBTRCIS to it ? Our readers may have noticed also the arrival of the monster 42-inch shells from Low Moor— to weig,h one ton six cwts., and to contain half-a ton of gunp )order ! If these can really be thrown by any mortar, and the shock of discharge borne by any boat, verily Sweal3org,, and Cronstadt itself, must tremble. Succeed or fail we are glad to see the trial making. Failure only entails the loss of no large sum of money ; success, on the other hand, will add another thorn to the crows of the Czan, if it be not blasphemy to recall the adula tory blasphemy of his Archbishop. Floating batteries have, it is rumoured, already had their inAuence in disposing him to think of peace ; bat if they are to be employed in throwing half tons of gunpowder into his forts, he may well bethink himself of asking mercy. We have not noticed that any special contrivance, like double locks to guns, has been adopted to insure the explosion of so costly a missile. From their size may not double fuzees be possible ? It seems horrible to be ever taxing our inge nuity to devise the most effectual instruments for wholesale slaughter ; if, however, human subjects are wicked enough, or deluded enough to back their M )narchs is wholesale robbery of other nations' lands and liberties, nothing but such methods will bring them to their senses. Messrs. STURGII and PEASE tried their plan to the uttermost ; the CzAit's comment on their peace oratory was pub lished in the Principalities. Unreflecting hu manity mourns over the death of some three or four hundred thousand Russians, but reflecting humanity would rejoice in the death, or capture, rather, this day, of every Russian soldier who stands on soil wrested by perfidy and violence from its native owners. Europe then might rest, Poland, Hungary, and Italy could no longer be trifled with or crushed, and something like liberty might dawn on Germany, that despot's nest. What we have so long and so perseveringly urged on the attention of the Ministry is at length about to be carried into execution. The Govern ment is about to avail itself of the Polish ele ment, to obtain the really valuable assistance of a body of gallant an d hi g h- m i nded men, who only panted for the opportunity of shedding their blood in the cause of their glorious, but deeply-i n j ure d, a co untry—who were ready, at any ri s k, an d i n any clime, to inflict " a heavy blow and great dis couragement" on the Autocratic oppressor of their unfortunate brethren. Too long has this source of extraordinary strength and power been disre garded. Too lo n g have we truckle d to the b e . beets of Germanism, and, in the vain attempt t o conciliate a pretended friend, neglected th ose who would have been far more useful to the great cause in which France and England have delibe rately embarked, than Austria or Prussia co u ld possibly have been, if their since rity w as as have been their treachery a s and un questionable in stability. We shall at length have a " Polish Legion I" not designated as such, for, u n fortu nately, the measure has not been so boldl y pro claimed as it ought to have been ; but "The rose by any other name will smell as sweet." And so long as we have the assistance of these gallant men, who possess the highest milita r y qualifications, we shall remain contented with what We cannot help feeling to be an ungracious prohibition. E very P o l e wou ld f ee l hi mse lf t re bly armed wh en fighting in the name of his dearly loved fatherland--a land the more cherished and idolised for the very misfortunes it had endured and is still enduring. But, although they would have hailed with gratitude a more independent course, they still feel grateful for the opportunity of dedicating their lives to the inspiring cause, and we venture to assert, without fear of contra diction, that not a single true-hearted Pole will withhold his aid, because he will be termed one of " the Cossacks of the Sultan:, An avenging DEITY will nerve his arm, NEMESIS will add power to every blow. The Standard of the White Eagle will proudly wave over the heads of the soldiers, while those who have been forced to serve in the ranks of the adversary will flock with enthusiasm to the side of their brethren ar rayed under the flag which once floated in the vanguard of every army opposed to Russia, but which has too long been concealed from the sight of a heroic nation and of its tyrannical op pressors. Never was there an occasion better suited for the announcement of the glad tidings than that so happily selected. It was on a day classed among those of national mourning for Poland—on the anniversary of the death of that high-minded Nobleman—" whose untiring devotion to the Polish cause shed some rays of light through the darkness of twenty-five years of all but hopeless exile.'' This exquisite and eloquent tribute—so justly paid to the memory of his departed friend by Captain CHARLES SCULCZEWSKI—was as true as it was beautiful. It was, indeed, a striking coincidence that the first important step towards the realisation of the projects for which that man—whose name has become a house hold word throughout the broad and fertile plains of Poland—whose enduring monument is erected in every Polish heart—laboured so indefatigably, should have been taken on the day consecrated to his memory. Even in his glorious and honoured grave, the name of Lord DUDLEY STUART will once more strike terror into the hearts of despots, and vibrate through the veins of the oppressed. There is one remarkable feature in the present arrangement, which proves beyond the possibility of doubt the spirit by which the " Cossacks of the Sultan" are actuated—that they are stimulated by no mercenary feelings, and are not willing to barter their blood for money. At the special re quest of General Count ZAMOYSKI "no bounty is to be proffered to the men about to join the division." The Poles " are expected to volunteer" —and they will do so. They demand only the ordinary necessaries, and rejoice that they can give this striking instance of enthusiastic devo tion. Of the complete success of the experiment we have not the slightest doubt. It is the first step in a course that will lead to the honour and welfare of the parties concerned, and make rege nerated Poland arise, Phcenix-like, from her ashes—more glorious than she had been in her palmy days, when she was justly regarded as the bulwark and protection of Europe against barba rian invaders. TEE BALTIC FLEET IN CORK. The following official communication from the First Lord of the Admiralty has been received by the Commissioners of Cork-harbour : " Admiralty, Nov. 16. " Sir,—l have received your letter of the 14th inst., and you must eee, upon reflection, that the stations of her Majesty's ships must be determined by the demands of the service, and that it would not be consistent with my duty to give any assurance that vessels would be stationed at any port merely on the request of the inha bitants of the neighbourhood. " I am, sir, your obedient servant, " CHARLES WOOD. "The Mayor of Cork." This brief reply to the Cork memorial appears to have created an unnecessary amount of local indig nation, come of which finds vent in such terms as these : " With a sense of shame at the degraded position of our country, and the suppliant posture which our highest and best citizens are compelled to assume in all com munications with the English Government, we direct attention to the curt, almost insolent, letter of Sir Charles Wood in answer to the memorial respecting the wintering of the Baltic fleet in Cork harhour." ATEST NEWS The Indus, which has arrived at Marseilles brings the following heads of intelligence : "It was reported at Constantinople on the 12th, on the strength of news from Asia, that the siege of 'tars was raised, and that the Rus sians were falling back on Tifti:t. Omer Pacha had arrived within 20 leagues of Kutais. " Selim Paella had left Trebizolide with Egyp. tian cavalry and artillery for Kars. "From the Crimea it was reported that Gene ral Vivian had arrived at Kerteb. ; that the Rus sian General Wrangel, with reinforcements, was threatening the straits of Yeuikale. The allies had 30,000 men to oppose him., and more troops were expected. The camp of huts established at Yeuikale is arranged for 15,000 men. " The export of grain from. the Ottoman Em pire is officially prohibited, and free import allowed for three months. " The French squadron of Admiral Bruat had arrived at Constantinople from the Crimea, having on board two brigades of infantry and artillery, and the equipage of the Imperial Guard. Eight regiments of infantry were to return to France, viz. :—The 20th, 39th, 50th, 82d, 86th, 90th, 97th, and 100th." TRIESTE, Nov. 21. A despatch, dated Constantinople, Nuv. 12, states that General Vivian, closely pressed by the Russians under General Wrangel, had applied to head-quarters for cavalry reinforcements. KONIGSBERG, Nov. 22. An order of the day, issued by the Minister of War, dated the Gth of November, has been pub lished. It orders that, for the purpose of obtain- ing greater unity in its operations, the maritime administration of Nicolaieff shall be submitted to the government of General Luders, to whom, in this particular instance, Prince Gortschakoff will be subordinate. ST. PETERSBURG-, Nov. 20. The Emperor has ordered the consideration by his Council of a plan, his own, of another levee en masse to take place throughout the empire, and form the third ban. BERLIN, THURSDAY EVENING. M. de Manteuffel has had two or three long in. terviews with the Baron de Budberg, the Russian Ambassador. These interviews are said to be for the settle ment of new bases of negotiation, to emanate from Russia. The Baron do Budberg will lay thorn before the Czar on his almost immediate visit to St. Peters burg. The levy of recruits in Poland is conducted with the greatest vigour. Thck frontier is so hermetically closed, to pre vent the flight of men who are liable to be levied, that commerce itself is almost put an end to. ATHENS, Nor. 16. M. Tricoupi will not accept office, and does no come to Athens. THE CZAR'S RETURN TO ST. PETERS BURG. The Emperor Alexander arrived at St. Peters burg on Monday night. In the Invalide Busse we find a few additional de tails of interest relative to the Emperor's movements in the Crimea. It will be seen from the following that his Imperial Majesty was at one moment in the close neighbourhood of the allied troops O❑ the 11th his Imperial Majesty inspected the troops near the Belbek and Youkhara-Kara,les, and was per fectly satisfied with their condition. In the morning of the same day some of the enemy's battalions, together with artillery, appeared anew on the crest of the hills which divide the valley of the Belbek from that of the 13.-tidar. Our outposts drew near with their reserves, but on the departure of the enemy soon afterwards, resumed their usual positions. On Nov. 12 the Emperor inspected the troops upon the river Katcha, and near the village of Tasch-Rtsty, and foind them like all the other positions of the army in a perfect condition. After this inspection the Emperor left for St. Peters- burg, by way of Moscow. Up to the night of the 12th nothing new had taken place in the Crimea. THE BLOCKADE IN THE BALTIC. We have been favoured by a very eminent mer chant with the following extracts of• letters dated the 13th inst., which have found their way from St. Petersburg : " We have just received news from Archangel, that about a dozen ships had arrived there, amongst them two Americans ; 40 or 50 more vessels wero expected. The Russians laugh at us, and ask where are our cruisers? " About 18 ships had got into Archangel, and all ex pected to get away. Cargoes both ways. " About 250 coasters had sailed from Cronstadt, with a variety of things for the different ports of Finland." GUN-BOATS AND MORTAR VESSELS. Mr. John Caird, of Liverpool and Birkenhead, has received orders to build 10 wooden screw gun-boats, each of 240 tons and 60 horse-power, of similar cha racter and armament to the Arrow, Beagle, Lynx, and Viper. The orders are to be completed by March. No fewer than 130 sawyers are employed in preparing tim ber. A thousand feet of shed accommodation is to be erected, and the sheds are to be lighted with gas ; the men working night and day, in order to complete the orders within the limited time allowed. TV7IO IS HE? A Taxpayer asks—ls the - - Duke George of Meeklen burg-Strelitz," whom the Invalidc Russe announces as a satellite of the Emperor of Russia in his recent visit to Odessa, the gentleman to whom the British nation pay• 3,0001. a year for having married an English princess ? Those who keep this little German Prince out of their hard earnings ought to know with what good taste their bounty is spent. VISIT OF THE KING OF SARDINIA. TO HER MAJESTY. WINDSOR, Thursday.—A preliminary meeting of the Mayor and Town Council of the royal borough was this day held at the Town-hall, to take into consideration the best manner in which to testify their respect upon the arrival of her Majesty's august ally, the King of Sar dinia, at the Castle. It was unanimously resolved that a reception on a similar scale of magnificence to that given to the Emperor of the French should be adopted. Mr. Darvill, the Town-clerk, has already seen Colonel Phipps on the subject, who expressed her Majesty's wish that the reception given to her ally should be on a scale commensurate with the importance of the occasion ; and we have no doubt our present Mayor (Mr. James Brown) is fully prepared to maintain the dignity of the royal borough by carrying out the arrangements in a most efficient manner. At the Court of Bankruptcy [yesterday there was an audit meeting under the estate of Messrs. Brodie and Brodie, bankers, of SAl:sbury. It was intimated that the official assignee has about 2,0001., which it is esti mated will allow a distribution at the rate of 4d. to sd. in the pound, in addition to th• 10 , . already paid. METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.—The future improve ments of the metropolis are ve3ted in the New Metro politan Board of Works. When the expense exceeds 50,0001., the plans are to be submitted to the Commis sioners of Works and Public Buildings, and when they exceed 100,0001., the sanction of Parliament must be obtained. _According to the reports of the trade of the Prussian port of Memel it appears that great quantities of sul phur, saltpetre, and other articles contraband of war continue to be sent over the frontier to Russia. The parties engaged in the traffic undertake for a very small premium to insure the delivery of the goods on the Rus sian soil. MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.—On Tuesday la , t was solemnised, at the parish church of Dingley, in the county of Northamptonshire, the marriage of William, Capell Clarke, Esq. ('ate of the 23d Royal Welsh Fusi liers), only son of Thomas Truesdale Clarke, Esq., of Swakeleys, Middlesex, and Bingham, Norfolk, with Clara, eldest daughter and heiress of the late T. Thornhill, Esq , of Fixhy Hall, Yorkshire, and Riddles worth, in the county of Norfolk. TIE EARL OF ABERDEEN.—On each day of the review at Aberdeen last week, there was a dinner in the Royal Hotel ; on the second, the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord Lieutenant of the county, honoured the feast with his presence, and remained to a late hour, in full dress, and with the Garter and other decorations, much to the gra tification of Colonel Erskine and the militia officers, who were the entertainers on the occaslon.—Aberdees ilerald. THI LONDON INSTITUTION.—Dr. B.assell t the author. of "Food and its Adulteration , ' " has just co m pl e t e d, a t the above institution , a course of lectures on the adulte ration of food, beverages, and drugs. These lectures were illustrated by a large number of diagrams, showing the appearances presented under the microscope, by the principal articles of consumption, both genuine and adulterated. SALE OF LAND AND THE WAR.—The allotment of the Hackney an `1 Guildford estates took place on Wednesday, at the office of the Conservative Land Society, when, not withstanding the depressing influence of the war, a very eager competition t ook p lace am ong the holders of rights. Land to the value of nearly 12,0001. was taken in the course of the day, being five-sixths of the entire amount. ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.--Evening meeting Monday, Nov. 26, at 8i o'clock. Papers to be read 1. Memoir on the Map of Damascus, Hauran, and the Mountains of Lebanon, constructed from personal survey. By the Rev. J. L. Porter, A.M., communicated by M.A., F.R.S., F R.G.S. 2. R epor t s John Hogg respecting Central Africa, as collected in Marnbara and and on the east coast, with a new map of the country. By the Rev. James Erhardt, communicated by the Church Missiopary Society. PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL ASSOCIATION. —The council of t his lar g e body of medic a l p rac ti t i oners, acceding to the general wish of its members, have re solved to propose at the next annual meeting that its name be changed to "The British Medical Associa tion." Au announcement to this effect was made on Tuesday at Birmingham by Sir Charles Hastings, M.D , to a meeting of t he association, attended b y about 160 members of the body. RUSSIAN' LOAN.—The statement that Russia has suc ceeded in negotiating the loan lately talked of at Berlin is not regarded as of much importance. The amount likely to be locked up in this way by German capitalists is believed to be very small, especially as the stock must be in a great degree unmarketable, since it is presumed the allies would at once make reclamations upon Prussia, if she were so far to throw off her disguise of neutrality as to permit securities created for purposes of direct hostility to them to be officially sold or quoted on her exchanges. LONDON AND PARIS JOINT-STOCK BANK.—The pro spectus bas been issued of a new establishment for facili tating financial transactions with the continent, to be called the London and Paris Joint-Stock Bank. Its capital is to be 600,000/. in shares of 1001. each, and the chief feature contemplated in its constitution is that, in addition to the ordinary business of a London Joint- Stock Bank, it shall, by means of a branch in Paris, enter into direct business in that capital, and introduce for the first time the system of banking practised by the establishments on this side. BONDED WINES.—The traders of the city of Londo n are still uncertain as to the intentions of the Government with regard to their complaints in relation to the mono poly of bonding privileges for private wine vaults enjoyed by the dock companies and a few individual firms. Two or three months back a Parliamentary return was ob tained, showing that, while privileges of this description are denied in the metropolis, there are nearly 1,000 per sons, at various provincial ports, who have succeeded in procuring them ; and a hope was then expressed that the Government, if they were unable to assign any rea son for this anomalous state of affairs, would at once assure the parties interested that it should soon be reme died. Although, however, no defence of the system STEAM ON CANAL3.—We are glad to learn that the attempt made by Mr. Rawcliffe, the spirited agent to the Earl of Balcarres, in this town , to introduce steam on the canal betwixt 'Preston and Kendal, has answered the expectations formed of it. A screw boat is now at work; the engine, about 20 horse power, having two B.inch cylinders, and occupying but little space on board, is placed in one boat, and four others attached behind, forming what may be called a boat train. The quantity of coal conveyed each trip is about 200 tons, loaded in the five boats, and a speed of two miles per hour is maintained. This speed might be increased, we believe, did the depth of water in the canal permit it.—Preston Chronicle. has been attempted it remains without reform. PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE FISH TRADE.—Last evening a meeting of members of the Billingsgate fish trade was held at the Coal Exchange Tavern, St. Mary at-Hill, Billingsgate market, for the purpere of taking into consideration the best means of insuring a cheap and regular supply of all kinds of fish to the metropolis, so that the quantity and the price should assume as cer tain a position as butchers' meat, flour, potatoes, or any other staple article of food ; also to hear some explana tions from a deputation connected with the "Anglo- French Steam Fish Conspany." Mr. Robinson, a sales man, occupied the chair. A series of resolutions ap proving of the scheme as promising real free trade in fish was passed, after which the proceedings terminated, OUR ARMY IN THE CRIMEA. (From , a Special Correspondent of the Morning Herald. BALAKLA.VA, Nov. 9. Wednesday, the 7th instant, passed away without the expected attack of the Russians being made, though on that very day they were plainly seen in great and unusual force opposite Inkerman, formed in five divisions, each en grande tenue ; and, more •ver, some personage of very exalted rank was evi dently present—possibly, as it is rumoured, the Emperor himself. The threatening news there fore, brought by the Russian picket, who some days since deserted en masse to the Sardinians, seems to have had some solid foundation ; but as so many Muscovites then came over to the allies the enemy, seeing that his secret must have been divulged by them, and thus all likelihood of a surprise on the 7th prevented, may at the last moment have changed his mind, and prudently deferred the day of battle originally fixed upon. The weather is still fine, and very favourable for military opera tions, though daily becoming more chilly in the morning and evening, while in mid-day we expe rience a heat and dust that remind us feelingly of summer. Not a drop of rain has yet fallen here since the week just after the evacuation of Sebas topol, to which rain attention was (in connection with huts and roads) called at the time, and when, indeed, the weather at any hour was far more cold and zipping than it has ever proved since. But our November sun is now the brightest of the bright, and a cloud in the Crimea is yet a rarity. This seems unseasonable. Wednesday next will be the anniversary of the great storm at Balaklava, when the Prince was un fortunately wrecked. It is now said that storm of 1854 was the worst experienced in the Crimea during the last 40 years, so that it is fairly to be hoped we shall now have no recurrence of so awful a calamity. For the benefit of "anxious owners," I will subjoin to this letter a list of the vessels now at Balaklava, so far as I can obtain their names by a pull through the harbour. These vessels are so closely packed in some of the tiers that passage be tween being impossible, I must necessarily fail to obtain all theirnames. The transports are generally reported, though too briefly, to the telegraph office, but the movements of other merchant ship ping are often not obtainable without the greatest difficulty. I am not aware that there is yet any harbour-master's office ashore, where a list of ar rivals and sailings is publicly exhibited. Speaking of offices, I may here incidentally touch upon that of the post at Balaklava, although I have in on e o f my recent despatches referred on other points to that establishment. It seems the - e is yet no resident postmaster at Balaklava, owing to that officer in the Crimea (Mr. Mellish or Mr. Angell) being ne cessarily so much engaged in the chief office at General Simpson's head-quarters, two leagues dis tant from Balaklava. But the Government ought not to be niggardly, to be penny wise at d pound foolish, in matters connected with letters, and, I must add, with newspapers. The postal staff must, by and bye, be increased. Cases are con tinually occurring where the postmaster himself is asked for by over-punctilious parties, who seemed dissatisfied, and sometimes very unreasonably, with the explanv tions of any one, able as he may of lower rank. Officers and men ride in from the Allied camp, many miles, and not unfrequently call on the very day the postmaster is fated to be required elsewhere. In his absence, the correct ness of answers given from another mouth, if not openly disputed, is, in too many instances, re ceived with incredulity. The Balaklava post office is certainly not too well or too soon provided with the ever-varying postal regulations of the Mediterranean, with the many ports of which offi cers here so frequently require to communicate by letter. The points in this particular respect alone upon which information is sought in Balaklava by Englishmen as well as by foreigners, might often puzzle Rowland Hill himself. While waiting for letters I have often heard this observed. On the despatch of the mail from Balaklava, one or two of the hands, instead of " getting a rest," are obliged immediately to go on to head-quarters to assist in making up the mail there. This arises from being short-handed. And still, month by month, the mails, inward and outward, increase in bulk. And they would still further increase did not home-correspondents forget to pre-pay ls. on every letter posted 0 a civilian sojourning at Ba laklava. A letter, however, when addressed to a soldier, requires but three penny stamps. Many newspapers miscarry from the same cause. Stamped journals, for the Crimea, require two stamps, and unstamped journals three. There may be other causes for the non-arrival of newspapers, hut post offices, at home or abroad, can seldom explain what these causes really are. Newspapers, however, be the cause what it may, do not reach the Crimea with anything like regularity or certainty. Ship masters especially complain of this, and the letters addressea to foreigners here give an immensity of trouble, displaying, as they do, directions in Greek, Turkish, Russian, Armenian, Italian, French, and other tongues, and in a style of calligraphy that even Carstairs, the "Flying Pen" personified, would certainly fail to discipline into legibility. These foreign letters are likely to become more mime rous than ever ; for it seems that if despatched from Malta, for instance, by English mail or ship, no postage whatever is charged on them (while, as I have said, Englishmen at home pre-pay ls.) ; but, if sent, still let us say for Malta, by French mail, postage is charged, and, moreover, the aggre gate postage is paid iu advance by the English office to the French office in Kamiesh, and after wards retaken in driblets at the English post-office, Balaklava, or that at General Simpson's head quarters, on the letters being called for by the parties to whom they are addressed. And " till called for " letters sometimes lie months in the pigeon -holes. Thus, the Maltese get their letters for nothing, and may also answer them, free, if they pass not beyond their own " tight little island." Not much can be learned here of the mail regu lations touching the lonian Islands. The post office at Balaklava is not kept sufficiently instructed in the lonian charges and changes made from time to time . And with Corfu, and th e w h o l e grou p, military men require much correspondence. Again, a man often wants to register a money letter at the Balaklava post-office for England. He can do this by paying 6d. ; but this does not insure the safe transmission of the money such letter contains. If lost or stolen, Government will not refund the cash. Possibly th e c l er k i n t o w h ose hands it was last traced might, to save himself from suspicion, pay down the amount. But then it might be argued that this would not be fair to the clerks. Balaklava has a polyglot, and, mo rally speaking, not over particular population, who might register a quasi money letter, containing in reality no money at all, and thus oocasionally set up and make good false claims for compensa tion. Under these and other circumstances, all the advantages of an office in England cannot yet safely be also granted b Balaklava. It must never be forgotten that we are here at war on the enemy's soil ; that the post-office at Balaklava is really and truly but an " Army and Navy Post-office," and that civilians may be almost said to avail themselves of it by sufferance only. For them or the army either, it is not a " money-order office." The sol dier can send home his spare cash through his own paymaster. And where the sum amounts to not less than 50/., the civilian can generally arrange to transmit it to the commissariat at Balaklava. I repeat there is no regular " money-order office" at Balaklava, and even postage to England (in money) cannot be paid at the Balaklava post-office. Stamps can, however, be attached to cover the postage home. But stamps are very seldom obtaina ble out here, except by buying of the hawkers through the camp "a. sheet of paper and a stamped envelope for five pence." The fellow who originated this trade among the soldiers is making a little fortune. He gives, of course, three stamps to each envelope ; but 2d. for an envelope and one sheet of paper leaves him a comfortable profit. " One-half of the world does not know how the other half lives." The Sardinians have now a sort of post-office at Balaklava, although the French have not, but they hare not yet entered into any satisfactory arrange ment with the English office as to the exchange of letters. They object to take charge of any betters for the Sardinian marir -, royal or mercantile, thus the English aredelayed 'Areceiving the postage due; but they pick out and pay for the military letters, only leaving all the rest on the hands of the Eng lish postmaster. How these Sardinians get letters first-hand for the English I know not, but the instant they do they are very sharp in applying to our postmaster for all the postage due to them. Each packet of letters brought to them is like a French republic—" one and indivisible ;" and the poor English post-office must furnish funds for the " tottle of the whole." But I have now scribbled enough about post-offices, and may call attention to a letter just received through that at Balaklava. Nis signed by several of the Scots Fusilier Guards. The London mail, due yesterday (Thursday), has not arrived at the posting of this despatch (Friday afternoon). Mr. Matheson, the respected Scotch missionary, known here as "the Sardinian's friend," has this week sailed from Balaklava for England. Wishes for his return hither are heard on every side. A great number of invalids embarked at Balaklava on the 9th of November (Friday) for Scutari and England. APPOINTMENT OF GENERAL CODRING TON AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN THE CRIMEA, VICE GENERAL SIMPSON, RE SIGNED. SEBASTOPOL, SATURDAY NOON, Nov. 10. I wrote you yesterday. I had scarcely posted my letter when two " bits of information" reached me of much local, if not national, importance. First of all, destiny had then decided that the Coldstream Guards should be officially declared in the ascendant. Yes, General Codrington is Com mander-in-Chief. The second " bit of information " I have to com municate is the bodilyappearance of the "Alliance" locomotive on the Balaklava line of railway. I saw it thereon an hour since. It is as pretty a piece of puffing, snorting, clicking, vapouring ma chinery as ever traversed a line of rail. Last night, and with success, it was tried for the first time. A second locomotive is already at Balaklava, but for the present we must not quite expect to rival the Blackwall or Greenwich Railway. The Crimean Tartars cannot at all understand these locomotives • and their extraordinary and almost obsolete exclamations of wonder strike our sleek and smiling interpreters perfectly aghast. The Flying Horse in the " Arabian Nights' Entertain ments" is now more firmly believed in than ever by all Mussulmans who have gazed on our green and gold-painted engine " Alliance," to which I shall soon again have occasion to refer. The expedition to Kaffa looks very much like a " mare's nest." The rumour this morning is that it is definitively postponed. So much the worse. Several attacks ou the highway have recently occurred near Balaklava and Kadi-Keny. Among those who bravely beat off their assailants were Dr. Palding and Mr. Compton, the latter of the 42d Highlanders. (71st) died not Major Hunter many days since at Kertch. The firing from the north side of Sebastopol, and from new earthworks more to the east, and near the Spur, has somewhat increased since my last. I have no close fighting of any sort to report, if I except a " tournament" between two oxen, in the hilly road before the camp of the 89th Regi ment, yesterday afternoon, when one so fiercely gored the other that the defeated animal had imme diately to be slaughtered. The spacious plains below these heights—the scene of Lord Cardigan's charge —are daily studded with immense herds of buffalo and droves of oxen, which the timid and the stranger often, " in the mist of the morning," magnifies into Muscovite cavalry formed in battle array, and advancing to destroy us. I am afraid, however, we old hands are not so easily terrified, but are preparing for a long and comfortable stay. One glance at the busy harbour of Balaklava will prove our preparation for a long tenantcy ; and no . w Admiral Fremantle, Major Mackenzie, and Captam Heath are, with others, taking for good " l o ng I: pull, a strong pull, and pull altogether ," Isl3l pose soon to devote a paper to the numeroi Go vernment works, hospitals, and naval and military .ll and other stores, factories, foundries,,,w-m,,i s, bakeries, parcel offices, and divers lions of Balaklava Harbour. amiesh cannot equal these. Fuel, chopped straw, flour b a gs, coal sacks, hut frames, bricks, iron work of all descriptions, horses, mules, 'and cattle here at Balaklava form altogether such an unprecedented scene for the perplexe(l eye to rest on that none perhaps but the author of " Little Dorrit "could paint in word. an adequate description of it. FRANCE. PARIS, THURSDAY EVENING. It is confidently affirmed in diplomatic circles that pacific measures, based on the endeavours now making by Prussia to obtain concessions from Russia, ar© in favourable train. Russia, it is said, has consented to make the first advances. The Western Courts, though considering them inade quate, do not discourage Prussia's endeavours, and appear disposed to entertain her overtures at me diation. The Moniteur gives the nominations to various offices in the magistracy, and a second decree, ad mitting prohibited goods taken on board enemy's ships, at a rate of duty of 20 per cent. Tho Three per Cents. closed to-day at 65f. 95c. for the end of the month ; the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. at 911; and the New Loan at 66f. 80c.; Orleans Railway Shares, 1,120 f.; Great Northern, 895 f.; Strasburg, 892 f. 50c.; New Shares, 760 f.; Paris and Lyons, 1,137 f. 50c.; Lyons to the Medi terranean, 1,250 f.; Western of France, 760 f.; Bor deaux and Cetta, 707 f. 50c.; Great Central of 'France, 592 f. 50c.; Lyons and Geneva, 670 f.; Bank of Credit Mobilier, 1,245 E; Austrian Rail ways, 7 20f. TEE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE. DOVER, FRIDAY, 11. A.M. Hir Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge has just arrived from Calais, and is landing at the quay, under a Royal salute from the heights. His Royal Highness will proceed to London by the 12 o'clock train. ARRIVAL OF THE KING OF SARDINIA. His Majesty Victor Emmanuel, King of Sar dinia, arrived at Marseilles, yesterday. At 9.30 a.m. the Carlo Alberto frigate, with his Majesty on board, hove in sight of Marseilles, and exchanged salutes with the cannon of the fort. The King made his entrance into the town in a hussar uniform, accompanied by a numerous staff. A large crowd bad assembled to witness his arrival. All the Sardinians resident at Marseilles crowded round the carriage of their King. His Majesty was loudly cheered along his passage through the streets. Troops of the line were drawn along the quay for his reception. The Prefect and General in command proceeded on board the frigate to welcome his Majesty. The different vessels in the port were gaily decorated, as were many of the houses in the streets through which the cortege had to pass. His Majesty loft at noon for Paris. The suite of the King of Sardinia consists of the following personages : Count Cavour, President of the Council ; the Chevalier Massimo d'Azeglio, Aide-de-Camp of the King and ex-Minister ; the Duke Pasqua, Prefect of the Palace ; Baron Nigra, Superintendent of the King's Household ; Major-General Count Morozzo de la Rocca, first Aide-de-Camp of the King ; Major-General Marquis d'Angrogna, Aide-de-Camp of the King ; Major-General Chevalier Carderina, Aide-de-Camp of the King ; Count Cigala, Colonel of Cavalry ; the Chevalier Persano, Captain of the Navy, Commander of the Port of Genoa ; Count de Robillant, Captain of Artillery, Officer of Ord nance of the King ; Count Valperga Barone, Officer of Ordnance of the King ; Professor Riberi, First Physician of the King. We learn from Lyons that great preparations were being made at that city to receive his Majesty. It was expected he would sleep at Lyons, and leave early on Friday for Paris. Success of Gen. Canrobert's Mission to Sweden—Rumours of Peace. The Paris correspondent of the Times (Second Edition) in his letter dated yesterday says " The intelligence which has reached me to-day, and which I consider to proceed from a good source, not only confirms what I mentioned. in my letter of yesterday relative to Sweden, but is of a still more satisfactory kind. It is affirmed i i quarters likely to be well informed that General Canrobert has completely realised all the hopes excited by his mission to Stockholm ; and some, in their ardent satisfaction, even declare that the result has sur passed all expecta . ron. Without going so far, I believe it may at, lent be positively affirmed that Sweden has engaged to adhere to the alliance of France, England, and Sardinia ; and not only this, but Denmark has declared that she will follow the example of Sweden, and accept for herself the same engagement. This is not all. I learn also that Prussia, acting on her own spontaneous movement, has positively made propositions of peace to Russia ; that these propositions have been made through the instrumentality of Count Munster, who was formerly and fora considerable time Military Commissioner or Plenipotentiary at the Court of Stockholm, who fol lowed the Czarto the Crimea to submitthem to him. It is not said that these propositions have been accepted or taken into serious consideration by the Czar ; but they are described as precise and pressing, and it is added that even should the Em peror refuse they will be pressed on him again and again more energetically and without relaxation. This resolve of Prussia is, of course, to be traced to the panic inspired by the success of General Canrobert's mission, the promised adhesion of Denmark, the possibility of the occupation of Courland by the allies, and an anticipated rising of Poland. Her situation must be diffi cult indeed. The hour of danger which has been so often pr e dicted is at last arriving, that danger whi c h s h e m i g ht h ave war d e d o ff l ong a tl g i o e C b z y ar a o n f thoseindependent and dignified atti tude. In case of the absolute rejection by propositions it is not stated what she will do. To pretend to maintain neutrality under such =Li i mstances is simply absurd, and s h e will have C ve no alterna tive but openly to declare for Russia or for the allies. Of Austria I have not heard a word in • this affair ; havinc , completed her abatement by her abject a . to Papal domination, she is hardly worth being mentioned among nations have who have any pretension to self-respect. The Duchess of Grafton and the Earl of Euston have left town for Wakefield Lodg e , near Stoney Stratford. Lady Mary Phipps has gone t o Wi n d sor. The Duke of Grafton come s to town to-morro w from Easton Hall. Mr. Labouch ere has appointed Mr. Hi gg i ns, of the Colonial Office, to act temporarily as his private secre- appointme n t s h ave —Seymour Thellu tary. beenW e m u a n d d e er a s t ta t n h d e t vir ba a t r t ro he ep f a ol r l t o m w e i n n t g : son, Esq., to be private Secretary to Colonel Mundy ; and William de Burgh, Esq., private Secretary to Mr. F. Peel, M.P. THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.—The Dublin Evening Post says that letters have bee n received in town, in which it is stated thA the tenders for contracts for beef and pork are still under the consideration of the Ad miralty. THE BALTIC. KIEL, Nov. 19.—The Locust arrived here this morning with the last mail which had been received fir the fleet at Dantzio from England. Admiral Baynes was still at Nargen, where he would likely remain for some time in charge of the flying squa dron, which will maintain the blockade as long as the weather will permit. The Falcon and other ves sels are reported by the Harrier, which also came in to-day from Faro Sound, to be still watching the Swedish coast, as au American trader, now in one of the ports there, will, it is understood, endeavour to land a lot of revolvers in Russia whenever she can elude the vigilance of our crui sers. The same vessel, it is said, succeeded in a similar enterprise last year, and they therefore reckon the more confidently on being able to carry out their plans this year also. There are other places, however, where similar arrangements are in progress. At Lubeck, in particular, it is known that preparations are making to despatch vessels for Libau and other Russian ports the moment it is thought they may be enabled to reach their destination. These cargoes, however, chiefly con sist of colonial produce, of which they are said to stand in great need on the northern shores of the Gulf of Finland, and in the Russian portion of the Gulf of Bothnia. It is not unlikely that brim stone and saltpetre may also be forwarded by that route, as the transit by railway through Konigs berg does not now afford the same facilities as for merly. From Copenhagen we hear of great preparations which are making for the reception of General Can robert at that court. RUSSIA. The Cologne Gazette publishes a letter, dated St. Petersburg, Nov. 11, in which it is said the five levies ordered alternately in the western and in the eastern half of the Euxine and in the kingdom of Poland, the last general levy decreed for the entire empire, the formation of the various reserve corps, the calling in of men absent on indefinite leave, and of the men who had served out their time and re ceived their discharge, the formation of the Finnish rifles, of the rifle regiment raised by the imperial family, of the coasts guard and the imperial militia, together with the six Cossack regiments of the Ukraine militia, the enrolling of the Bashkeer regiments, of the Don Cossack army of the Transcaucasian militia, besides the irregular hors in Asia Minor, and who have been collected from various tribes—all these have succeeded each other almost uninterruptedly. For the speedier despatch of business in the recruiting department, the com missioners have been increased threefold, and per manently appointed in the recruiting districts. In the Baltic provinces the town militia or train bands—an institution of German origin—and the rifle guilds, have been called to arms. In addi tion to the above circular invitations have been sent to the students in the schools of every grade, promising them certain advantages in their fu ture career, provided they take service in the army. A recent decree decides respecting the above-mentioned grant of certain privileges to the colleges and endowed grammar-schools of the two capitals, and to the pupils in the so-called Alexander Lyceum, that all the schoolboys who happen to have reached the ninth or tenth class upon their leaving the school shall be deemed to be on a par with the candidate for holy orders higher up the twelfth class—with the real students in short; in like manner, all those who have reached the fourteenth class shall be deemed equal to the collegians, provided they then give up their scholas tic pursuits. I may here observe, that all these classes correspond respectively to the regimental grades of ensign (proporshtshik), sub-lieutenant (podporutshik), lieutenant (porutshik), and staff captain, or, as they sly in Prussia, captain of the • econd-class. These privileged young men will, consequently, enter the army with the rank of officers, and will serve materially to increase their number. THE PENINSULAR MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY, 2.30 A.M. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam stap Valetta, with the Peninsular mails, has just arrived. The Valetta's dates are—Gibraltar, Nov. 16th ; Cadiz, 17th ; Lisbon, 19th ; Vigo and Oporto, 20th. She has on board 25 passengers, about 1,8001. in specie, and the usual cargo. The Lisbon exchanges for three months (this packet are quoted—L , )ndon, 54i to ; Paris, 520 to 518 ; Amsterdam, 431, Hamburg, 49 ; and Genoa, 51. A fair amount of business had been done on London ; most of the paper was taken, and more money offering than by the last few packets. On the continent the transactions were trifling ; Portuguese Three per Cents., 401 to 41i ; Bank of Portugal shares were in demand at 10 to 8 milreis discount per share ; Bank of Oporto shares 19 to 20 per cent. prem.; and Lisbon Bank notes per cent. discount. _ _ From Oporto we learn that wine shipments had somewhat slackened, at the same time there was a scarcity of British shipping. Business in general was dull. There was a reac tion in the sugar market, and large quantities were being purchased for shipment to England ; the price has consequently advanced. Oil was also ad vancing in price, although the crop of olives was abundant. Fish oil was also being purchased in large quantities for the English market. Exchange for the packet was done from 54j to 66, according to date and rate of paper. A good amount of business was done, and paper remained over. The elections for the members for the municipal chambers for 1856 and 1.07 commenced on the 18th, and matters went off tamely. It was ex pected the majority would be in favour of the Conservatives. Several shipments of Brazil sugar have been made here for England, in consequence of the recent rise in prices, and wheat shipments still continue, with out any renewed signs of the panic which was got up to see if the Government could be induced to take the false step of suspending the exportation, instead of allowing, as it does, both exportation and importation of grain. THE ADULTERATION OF FOOD.—A return was pub lished yesterday (on the motion of Mr. Wise, M.P.) showing the number of detections made of the adultera tion of tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, and pepper, from 1A44 to 1854, &a. As regards tea, there were 12 cases detected within that period, and 4 convictions ; as re gards coffee 4,259 detections (whereof 863 in 1853, and 342 in 1854), and 851 convictions ; as regards cocoa and chocolate, there were no detections of adulteration made; and as regards pepper, there were 272 detections of adulteration and 192 convictions. In one cue only does imprisonment appear to have been inflicted on the guilty party. COURT OF COMMON COUNClL.—Yesterday a court (the first during the present mayoralty) was held for the despatch of public business. There was an unusually large attendance of members, and the strangers' gallery was overcrowded. The Lord Mayor, on taking the chair, said—Gentlemen of the Common Council, in occupying this position for the first time this day, I beg to assure you that I highly appreciate the honour of pre siding over the deliberations of this Court. (Hear.) During my year of office I shall do all in my power to insure order and regularity in our proceedings, with a view to the proper conduct of our business, and I rely upon you to afford me that assistance in carrying out n.y object which you have ever given to my pre& • (lessors. (Cheers.) 1)1111 POPE'S TAXES.-At Benevento the other day the tradespeople refused to pay a new tax just levied by the Papal government, and one of their chief men was arrested. This measure created great excitement ; crowds assembled and proceeded tumultuously to the bishop's residence, demanding the rescue of the prisoner. The bishop, Cardinal Carafa, recommended the crowd to prey to the Virgin Mary that she might inspire him and advise him how to act. The crowd obeyed, went to the cathedral, prayed an extempore prayer on the subject, and then, as tumultuously as before, went to ask the cardinal if be had received the expected inspiration. The cardinal then referred them to the delegate, and the latter, getting frightened, consented to their demands. Since then, however, the Roman government has ap- plied to that of Naples for permission to send a few companies of soldiers to the principality, and "it is ex po:444 there will be no difficulty in restoring order.:: ag; tez inc tit Ba] the am, 15: ing ben put dat the Rev, tho. Whi