The Sun. — London, England, 1856-01-25 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL, DRITRY.LANE. Lessee. Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, THE GREAT GUN TRICK. After which, MRT DIDDLE DIDDLE; or, Harlequin King :Imams° and the Seven Ages of Man. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Under the Management of Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, THE TIZAUX STRATAGEM. liter which the New Connie Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE RUTTERFLY'S BALL AND THE GRASSHOPPER'S FEAST ; or, Harlequin and the Genius of the Spring. To conclude with ONLY A HALFPENNY. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. Camas Kaas• THIS EVENING. KING HENRY THE EIGHTH. Queen Katharine, Mrs. C. Kean; Cardinal Wolsey, Mr. C. Kean. After which, ISARLEQUIN AND TUE MAID AND THE MAGPIE ; or, the Fairy Paradisa and Sankt' Panky, the Enchanter. Ltarleglll2, Mr. Cormack ; Clown. Mr. Hunan ; Pantaloon. Mr. telo ; and ColumMne, Mlsa Caroline Adams. TREATRE ROYAL ADELPIIT. rroprietor, Mr. E. Webster.—Directress. Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING. DOMESTIC ECONOMY. After which, URGENT RRIVATE AFFAIRS. To conclude wit P.CK AND THE BE GoosAN STALK o, Harlequin and Mother e at Borne Again. In which Measti. J. Bland, P. Bedfbrd, Madame Mies Wynalt.un, and Miss E. Arden will appear. ROYAL SURREY TFIEATRE. Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick. THIS EVENING PARIS IN 1792. To conclude with A. PRINCE OF PEARLS ; or. Harlequin and Jane Shore. ROYAL STRAND TREATRS. tlader the direction of Mr: Payne. THIS EVENING. THE HOLLY TREE INN. Followed by A PLAGUE ON ISOTEI TOUR HOUSES. After wlitc.b. NOEMIE; or. The Foster Sisters. To conclude with NOT TO DE DONE. EDYAL OLYMPIC THFIA.TRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING. THE JEILOUS WIFE. After which will lie produced a New and deuhly-moral, though accerilvely old, Melodramatic Fairy Extravaganza, entitled '1 -•-• friE DISCREET PRINICES4; o', the Th?es Glair; Ista.rfi. n which Nieserq. Emery, F. Rohlln, 11. Cool:iv, Mils Marto 1, ant ?Cm &tastell wtll appesr. APTLEY'S ROYAL. AMPHITHEATRE. Lame and Manager. Mr. Wm. Cooke. TWO GRAND JUVENILE NIGHTS, by particular desire. TIIIS EVENING, - - A Grand Equestrian Comic PalltalliMe. called lIARLEQUIN AND BT. GEORGE AND TIIE DRAGON; or, the Seven Chant pious of Christendom. After which the unequalled Exhibition of EQUESTRIAN ART in the CIRCLE, includity , the performance of Sfisi Kate Coek, la !ear de l'Arltne . The sacicAous Elephants will appear. To conclude with the faithful portraiture of one of the most popular Romances ever written called ROOK WOOD; or, Tuaers's La DE to TORR. Itou.olitee open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director. Mr. w. Cooke. inn. EMMA STANLEY'S SEVEN AGES OF WOMAN, Every Evening at 8, and on Saturdays at 3. Pronounced by the unanimous voice of the press, and by nightly inc9ming audiences, to be the Greatest Artistical Triumph of the day. SAINT MARTIN'S HALL, Long-acre. Area, Is. ; Reserved Chairs, 2s. 6d. FIIGIT WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TFUN DAT—Mnrn. 1 min. aft. 4—Evening 16 min. aft. 4 1' N-Monaow—Morn. 32 min. aft. 4—Evening 48 min. aft. 4 THE `FATHER—Sox OFFICE, JAN. 25. THERMOIIETEE, IN THE. SHADE. 1 4 ,1 highest since ❑oon yesterday. 45 -lowest this morning and during the night. 50 -this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29'18—rising. WIND, W.N.W.—Light, with fine sunshiny weather. roo Q . ;143 IZ , §lltrc, LONDON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1856. Her MAJESTY'S Oppositioc, by a curious cJinci dence, after having long numbered among its con spicuous chiefs two of the most eminent of our living novelists, has now, it appears, the prospect. of being almost immediately recruited, by the ad mission into its ranks of a third, in the person of the celebrated author of Ten Thousand a Year. To the names of DISRAELI and BurAvEa may shortly be added that of SAMUEL WARREN, iu his charac ter as one who, prior to his entrance into the House of Commons, had already acquired distinc tion for himself by remarkable successes won in the arena of letters as a writer of imagination. The mere concidence, we conceive, is in itself something really noteworthy, that before the ap proaching session be many days old, there may in all likelihood be ranged in the same political category three of the most original fictionists of our generation—the author of the brilliant and sarcastic " Coningsby," the author of the witty and sparkling " Pelham," and the author of the exquisitely imaginative and pathetic " Diary of a late Physician.' Already, as all the world knows, the two former are there, pretty firmly established, too, upon the front bench on the left-hand side of the Speaker, immediately opposite those dear, delightful, coveted green boxes of office—the one As the recognised and authoritative leader, the other as the most distinguished ornament of the compact phalanx of legislators, courteously, but strangely known in political circles as her Ma .rxs-ry's Opposion. Recently, as all the world does not know—the fact having only as yet been intimated through a sort of semi-official para ,graph, now going the rounds of the newspapers— there has glimmered up the probability, as it appears, in truth, the exceeding probability that there will very speedily be an accession to the numbers ranked under the Parliamentary banners of Mr. DISRAELI and Sir 13IILWER LYTTON, of a member of the world of letters and of the world of politics, as congenial in spirit and in princi ples as the learned Recorder of Hull. What can hardly fail to enhance very considerably the pecu liar interest felt in this announcement by the readers of MIGA, will assuredly be the somewhat startlinz conjuncture of the circumstances under which it happens just now to make its appearance. Our allusion cannot but ie appreciated on the instant by those familiar with Mr.WAnntles masterpiece, when we observe that his probable entrance into the House of Commons as the representative of the Borough of Midhurst will be in a manner the advancement of the caustic satirist of " Ten Thou grind a Year," vice the Right Hon. Cuar.LEs A rBRE y, promoted, in great likelihood as some think, to the more onerous post left vacant by the recent demise of the late colleague of Mr. WIGRA.II as member for the University of Cambridge. However this may be, such changes are just now not only spoken of, but, by many, very confi dently anticipated. Stranger things have hap pened before now than that Mr. WARREN should go far tread in the footsteps of AuBREY, and that the amliition of an earnest life should thus in the maturity of his manhood be realised without SO much-even we ultra-Liberals must believe it— as an inkling of inconsistency or the shadow of the shade of a compromise. Ultra-Conservative of the pur sang, of the " blue blood," he is, and must ever remain as a matter of course, otherwise he could never have thrown so much verve, and euergr, and passion int o t h e master strokes of ,j satire dashed hither and thither with a bold hand a upon the broad can v ass of "Ten Th ousan d notwithA.lnd Tear ;" but let na hnpe, i ng, and be- . lieve nevertheless, that upon his entering the Huse of Commons, whether as M.P. for Mid hurst or elsewhere, Mr. WARREN'S constituents may find him doing full justice at once to his own reputation and to themselves by appearing less as a mere party man and more as a Law Reformer, and as a champion of the rights of Literature. It is to be hoped that the nation is not again leaning on a broken reed in trusting to the sin cerity of Austrian professions. We have been too frequently deceived in our reasonable expec tations by that wily and intensely selfish Power, to allow of our reposing implicit confidence in any promises which are not calculated to promote her own objects. Nor does the acceptance by Russia of propositions, in which many loopholes for eva sion have been studiously left, add much addi tional weight to the new undertaking of the Cabinet of Vienna. From the very commence ment of the Eastern difficulties the Czar no/to- LAS showed that he had no misgivings with respect to the policy of the German States. In the celebrated conversations with Sir HAMIL TON SEYMOUR he expressed himself perfectly satisfied that neither Austria nor Prussia would occasion him the slightest trouble. He did not even consider it necessary to sound the Sovereigns or the representatives of these States. Indeed he spoke of the interests of Austria in respect to Turkey being identical with his own, while he had the most profound confidence in the sym pathy and friendly co-operation of " the Angel of Peace" in any matter that he thought proper to originate. Has anything since occurred to show that this confidence was unfounded. Far from it. Prus sia has rendered very valuable, although indirect, assistance. Through the facilities afforded, Russia has been enabled to carry on her foreign trade, which otherwise would have been altogether suppressed. " The sinews of war" were thus provided, and even the materiel was not wanting, when it could be conveyed from or through either of these States—which thus deliberately violated their professed neutrality in a very important particular. Austria has been, perhaps, more useful than Prussia herself. She could not, of course, afford such valuable com mercial facilities, but, to the best of her ability, she supplied what is usually termed " Contra band of war," while she kept the Allied Powers in play, waiting for the long-promised "active co-operation," which was never afforded, or, we believe we may add, never intended to be afforded. Even in the present instances all that was promised to the Western States in the event of a Russian refusal to accede to the Austrian Propositions was that the Austrian Ambassador should be with drawn front St. Petersburg. There was no pledge that she would be prepared t• take the field with an efficient army—nothing to bind her in any way that could materially advance the interests of the Allies. They were bound to protect her if she should be attacked, but there was no recipro city—nothing to remove from the stipulation the objection that it was a mere nudum paettim, made without the slightest consideration or benefit to either France or England. It is needless to refer to the conduct of Austria in the Principalities, which she was so improvi• dently permitted to occupy. To say nothing of the tyranny exercised over the unfortunate inhabi tants, which rendered her domination far more irk some than even that of Russia, the unwarrantable refusal to permit the SULTAN'S troops to march through the SULTAN'S territory, for the purpose of attacking those who had so lately invaded his dominions—a refusal which might have led, and and was intended to lead, to the destruction of the French and English armies-;--completely moved the flimsy veil of friendship for the Allies under which she had concealed her operations. And yet the Cabinets of the Tuileries and St. James's still permit Austrian interference, still allow her to create diversions in favour of their common adversary. The terms proposed to, and accepted by, Russia are notoriously inadequate to the real exigencies of the case, in all points in which the interests of Austria are not involved, they are likewise so vague and undeveloped on matters of vital importance to the future peace and tranquility of the world, that even taken by themselves, . they supply prima facie evidence of having been conceived altoge ther with a ♦iew to the advantage of Russia. Kars, and the position of Russia in Asia, is alto gether ignored. No reference is made to the recent conduct of the ewes chief satrap, the SHAH, or the seizure of Herat, the gate to India—nothing of Bomarsund, or the Baltic, or the protection of the Scandinavian Powers against one who has already stripped them of some of their most valuable provinces, and who ostentatiously parades amongst his titles that of " Heir of Den mark." The absence of any conditions on these all-important topics proves beyond the possibility of doubt that a real bona fide and permanent peace cannot be anticipated under existing cir cumstances, or from the accepted conditions; and yet, where so many matters of para mount interest have been slurred over, Count Buon, in the despatch which accompanied the Austrian Propositions, and the text whereof appeared in The Sun of the 19th instant, declared that if the Propositions met a favourable recep tion he would lose no time in warmly recommend ing their acceptance at the Courts of Paris and London—" expressing, at the same time, the con fidence he felt that they would not use the right of eventually presenting special conditions at the negotiations, save in the interest of Europe, and to an extent such as will not raise serious obstacles against the re-establishment of peace !" This clearly shows the intention of Austria not to sup port or sanction any demand which could possibly compensate, in even a trifling degree, for the omissions above referred to. Nor is this all: for in the same despatch the Austrian Minister declares that " the signature to these preliminaries would be immediately followed by a general armistice and definitire negotiations." Have we not reason then to dread this inau spicious and highly dangerous intervention ? Are we not more than justified in imploring the vigi lant attention of the Members of both Houses of Parliament to this critical state of affairs. We fear that there are sinister influences at work the more prejudicial to the national welfare, beCause there is no tangible responsibility. We have every confidence in Lords PAL3IERSTON and CLARENDON, but we fear that they aro not al lowed to decide for themselves on what is required for the honour and welfar e of Great Britain. As we have already stated, the spirit of Germanism is rampant in our counsels, and it behoves every true-hearted Englishman to be on his guard against the results that may follow, should it re main unchecked. The Premier must be sup ported. It must be shown that he is now far b3youd the operation of any back -stairs' intrigue, such as that by which he was affected in December, 1851. British interests are not, and shall not be, sacrificed to German predilections or German connexions. We have happily got rid of nanover, which involved the nation in so much trouble, anxiety, and expenae. We cannot sub mit to have an equally injurious connexion with Saxe-Coburg or Belgium. " England has no cousins or uncles." She must be governed in accordance with her own constitutional laws ; and while we fully recognise the principle that " the Sovereign" can do no wrong, we must hold that all her advisers, no matter what their posi tion, or whether holding office or not, shall be held responsible for acts which are not conducive to the safety, honour, or welfare of the Crown or the people of Great Britain. Wanted, a popular treatise on the British Con stitution in War time. Everybody knows who reigns, and who is Prime Minister. What is wanted is to know who governs, for that is a mys tery. Can anybody tell ? Lord PALMERSTON, as War Minister, is a bold man, a safe man, and an Englishman, and ought to govern, but he don't, or he is a prodigy of hypocrisy, an alternative we cannot for a moment seriously entertain nothing, in our opinion, being clearer than that he is thwarted at every turn by some malign power in the develop ment of a truly British policy —a power that follows like an avenging fate in the track of British valour and council, heaping disaster on victory, and filling with ashes the fruits of wise resolve a power not English, if in England, but responsible for much needless English suffering, the wanton effusion of much gallant English blood, the clouding of our martial and naval fame, and serious injuries beside to the cause of liberty and constitutional Government. —a power that has no sympathy with the national spirit, and is at once to be traced in the circum stances of an enemy spared, and his resources magnified, an Ally sacrificed, and brave English men with her, honest men slandered, and an in sidious Treaty planned. It is idle to tell us now that OMER PACHA SELIM PACHA, or any Pacha is guilty of the fall of Kars. Slander, like mortar, hardens in the sunlight and will not stick. Equally idle to at tribute the blame to Lord STF.ATFORD DE RED CLIFFE or the Turkish Government. More so to Lord PALMERSTON. Men like him are not ener getic by fits and starts in a cause in which they are heart and soul engaged. From whatever quarter the " peremptory orders from home" to stay the march of the Turkish Contingent to the relief of Gen.Wrwa .is in Kars proceeded, they were not despatched, or we are grievously mistaken, with his approval. The Minister who had taken up the reins of power as they draggled on the ground, had peopled a Golgotha with soldiers and inspired a host with confidence, who had wielded the re sources of a betrayed empire with an arm worthy of its greatness, and of a daring genius against the foe, and had in effect put his heel upon Sebastopol and the pride of Russia was not the individual to stultify himself and render his triumph nuga tory by so monstrous an error. The orders could never have originated with him, say to the con trary who will. The siege of Silistria is not yet forgotten. Orders, as we have reason to believe, not less peremptory and with a kindred intention, stayed the march of the Allies to the relief of that stronghold, and Lord PALMERSTON was not Prime Minister then, nor was our Ambassador in Turkey or the Turkish Government to blame. The orders on both occasions originated in the same quarter, and that a secret one, and were transmitted under like circumstances. It was when intrigue was usurping the place of negotia tion, and fellow-feeling with the enemy was stimu lating an endeavour to soften his fall, soothe his vanity, and help him to a peace he had no claims. to, and which could only be conceded to our loss, that both orders were peremptorily issued. For tunately Silistria, aided by individual British skill and resolution, and the forces of OMER PASHA, was saved from its impending fate. Not so with Kars. Kars has fallen, and the sole re deeming features in its fall are, it was defended gloriously by Gen. WILLIAMS, and only surrendered after. With fevered tongue and hollow utterance he had dictated the terms of capitulation. What the quarter or who the power is to which such treason to the country and to the interests of ci vilisation is ascribable is a secret which it is of the last importance should be known, and which must be zealously sought out by the representa tives of the people. When Parliament meets it must be demanded—" Why was Kars suffered to go unrelieved ? What was it that para lysed the energies and stultified the policy of the Government ? What secret and ma lign foe was it that dared to counteract the wishes and sacrifice the glory and the in terests of the British people ?—that lost us at Kars what we had won with treasure and blood at Se bastopol ?" Would to HEAVEN Lord PALMERSTON wou►d speak out, and then we should see whether any rank or station can shield the traitor from British indignation ! The Premier should cast off his fetters. He has but to throw himself on the country, to return armed with a power against which there can be no effective opposition, secret j or open. Why does he not make the plunge ? Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester has been suffering from indisposition during the past few days, at Gloucester House. We are glad to learn that her R )yal Highness was considered better yesterday. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge left town yesterday on a visit to her Majesty at Windsor Castle. His Excellency the Ambassador of France and the Countess de Persigny entertained at dinner, last even ing, at Albert-gate House, his Excellency the Prussian Minister and the Countess Bernstorff, his Excellency Baron Bentinck, the Marquis and Marchioness of Clan ricarde and Lady Harriet de Burgh, the Marquis and Marchioness of Ely, the Countess of Desart, Viscount Chelsea, Dr. Meryon, the Hon. R. Edwardes, and Mrs. John Stanley. The Earl of Desart has been suffering from severe in disposition for some time past. Viscount Wellesley has left the Clarendon for Dray cott House, near Chippenham. The Lady Emily Dungarvon gave birth to a daughter, on Sunday last, at the family residence in Brook•street. Mr. J. D. Magens has left the Clarendon for Dover. The widow of M. Giraut, of Valenciennes, famous for having introduced the cultivation of chicory for mixing with coffee, has just attained her 100th year, and is still in excellent health. DUBLIN, Jan. 24.—Lord Viscount Lifford has been elected a temporal peer of Ireland, in the room of the late Lord De Vesci. There was no opposition. Mr. Macready read his lecture " On some of the Aspects of Intolerance," before the members of the Yeovil Institution on Wednesday. The audience was a crowded one, and Mr. Macready's reception most en thusiastic, upwards of sixty new members having joined the society on purpose to participate in the intellectual treat. The society now comprises nearly 400 members. RETURN!OF THE BELGIQUE.—SOUTHAMPTON, Thursday Night.—The Belgian Steam Transatlantic Navigation Company's new screw steam-ship Belgique, Captain Tuck, the first of a new line of steamships from Antwerp, via Southampton, to New York, put back this evening. The Belgique left Antwerp on the 31st ult., but, in con sequence of a disarrangement in her machinery, was detained here until the 6th, on which day she left, and, owing to a second accident, was compelled to put into Plymouth Sound, from which port she sailed for Now York on the 10th. After reaching about 700 miles west of the Lizard one of the boilers was found to be burnt out, and the ship leaking to a considerable extent. The mainmast had also sunk. Finding that a continuation of the voyage was dangerous, the Belgique was forced to put back, and it was only by the united efforts of the passengers and crew that she was kept afloat, the pumps by that means having been kept in continual work night and day. Th e quan tity of wa t er i n h er hold is variously stated from four to six feet. The Belgique will come into dock t o - morrow . Th e s hi p h a d fair weather after leavi ng Plymouth. THE Mems.—Liverpool, Jan. 24.—The British and North American mail steam ship Persia, Judkins, sails hence on Saturday, on her first voyage. She goes to New York direct, the hours for receiving letters at Li re*pool bring 3 a.m., with late fee at 10 a.m., and at the landing stage at 11 THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING ; JANUARY 25, 185 6, COURT CIRCULAR, WINDSOR, THURSDAY. The Queen and Prince drove out in an open carriage yesterday, accompanied by Lady Blanche Egerton and Lady Grey, and attended by Lady Churchill and the Hon. Mary Seymour. Lord Charles Fitzroy and Colonel F. H. Seymour were in attendance on horse back. The following visitors arrived in the afternoon :—The Princess Victoria Gauromma of Coorg and Mrs. Drum mond ; General Count Alphonso La Marmora, com manding Sardinian Contingent in the Crimea, attended by his Aide-de-Camp, Count Avet ; the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury and Lady Victoria Ashley, Viscount Torrington, Lord Churchill, and Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons. In addition to the above the dinner party included her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, the Earl of Aber deen, the Earl and Countess of Ellesmere and Lady Blanche Egerton, Lady Fanny Howard, Baroness de Speth, Sir George and Lady Grey, and Colonel Francis Seymour. The band of the Grenadier Guards played during din ner, and afterwards her Majesty's private band. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by General La Marmora, went out shooting, this morning. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge (at tended by Colonel Tyrwhit) arrived to-day on a visit to the Queen. Captain the Hon. James Drummond, R N., and Captain Sherard Osborne, R.N., also arrived at the Castle. DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE AT Jr/ND SOR CASTLE. (From the Court Newsman.) WINDSOR, THLTRSDAY. A dramatic performance took place at the Castle last evenicg. Shakspere's play, in five acts, of " The Mer chant of Venice, , ' was selected, and the parts were filled according to the following programme : Duke of Venice v Mr. Graham. Antonio (the Merchant of Venice) Mr. Cooper. Bassani° (his friend) Mr. A. Wigan. Gratiano Salanio 1 . (Friends to A n t on i o andi Mr. J. F. Cathcart. f Salarino Bassanio) ( Mr. G. Everett. Lorenzo (in love with Jessica) Mr. Leigh Murray. Shylock (a Jew) Tubal (a Jew), his friend Mr. F. Cooke. Launcelot Gobbo (a clown, servant to Sisyleck) Mr. Keeley. Old Gobbo (father to Launcelot) Mr. Meadows. Leonardo (servant to Bassanio) rich hei ress ) Mr. Clark. } rvants to Portia) 1 Mr. Bush. Mrs. Charles Kean. r ß sto a er l i t t h iha a a z i . ao r ( se Nerissa (her waiting maid) Jessica (daughter to Shylock) Miss M. Ternan. of Scene i — a. partly at Venice and partly at Belmont, the seat Director, Mr. Charles Kean. Assistant Director, Mr. George Ellis. The th G ea r t i r e e ve a . rranged, and the scenery painted by Mr. Thomas The Qneen'sprivate band was in attendance. About 8 o'clock her Majesty the Qceen and his Royal Highness the Prince entered St. George's Hall, accom panied by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, the Princess Alice, and other members of the Royal family, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the Princess Victoria Gauromma of Coorg, General Count Alphonso La Marmora, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury, Lady Victoria Ashley, the Earl and Countess of Ellesmere, Lady Blanche Egerton, Lady Fanny Howard, Viscount Torrington, Lord Churchill, the Right Hon. Sir George and Lady Grey, Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, Captain the Hon. James Drummond, R.N., Captain Sherard Osborne, R.N., Colonel Francis Seymour, Colonel Tyrwhit, Mrs. Drummond, Count Avet, and the Ladies and Gentlemen in attendance. On th• entrance of the Queen and Prince the perform. ance commenced. Refreshments were served to her Majesty's visitors in the Music Chamber. The following had the honour of receiving invitations to witness the dramatic representation : —Lord James Murray, Baroness de Speth, the Right Hon. and Lady Mary Labouchere, Lady and Miss Brinckman, the Hon. Mrs. Hodgson, the Provost of Eton, the Hon. and Rev. E. and Mrs. Moore, the two Misses Moore, the Rev. Seymour Neville, Mr. and Mrs. Ricardo, Lieut. Riley (Rise Brigade), Lieut.-Colonel Martyn (Commanding Officer), Lieut. Lane and Sub-Lieut. Cuninghame (2d Life Guards), Colonel Clifford (Commanding Officer), Lieut.-Colonel Hopwood and Lieut. Phillips (Ist Bit talion Grenadier Guards), Lady Caroline and Miss Bar rington, Lady Emily Seymour, the Misses Lambton, Colonel the Hon. N. and Lady Mary Hood, Major Neville, Colonel the Hon. C. 8., Mrs. and Mrs. Phipps ; Miss Sayer, Captain Sayer, (28th, or R. W. Fusiliers), Sir George and Lady Couper, Miss and Mr. Couper, Mr. Glover, and Mr. Gibbs. COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE. Last evening was tile first juvenile night performance of the Wizard's magnificent pantomime, and, as might have been expected, the attendance of the young folk for whom the entertainment was specially arranged was ex ceedingly numerous. On this occasion the pantomime was given first, which, by an admirable arrangement, terminated at nine o'clock. It was very amusing to watch the astonishment and delight depicted on the countenances of the hundreds of children present at the vagaries of Clown and Pantaloon, and the graceful dancing of Harlequin and Columbine. In the course of the comic part of the pantomime various novelties were introduced for the occasion, amongst the most attractive of which was the introduction of some of Flexmore's juvenile pupils. In the Balmoral Palace scene the antics of the Clown created great laughter, and the de light of the little folk knew no bounds as he drew from his capacious pocket a little Highlander, apparently about three years of age, who danced the " Highland Fling " with a spirit and vigour really astonishing. The performances concluded with the operatic drama of " Rob Roy," in which Professor Anderson, as the bold outlaw, is now becoming exceedingly popular. He is nightly called before the curtain to receive the well merited applause of a highly-delighted audience. Two more juvenile nights are all that the present arrange ments of the Professor will admit of, and they have accordingly been fixed for to-night and to-morrow. The house was densely crowded long before the rising of the curtain. TRADE OF THE PORT OF IPSWICH. —The shipments of grain from the port of Ipswich amounted last year to 25,494 quarters of wheat, 17,292 quarters of barley and rye, and 3,107 sacks of flour. Of vessels inwards the number has fallen from 1,183, with a tonnage of 87,876, in 1854, to 1,168, with a tonnage of 84,083, in 1855 ; of vessels outwards the number has risen from 716, with a tonnage of 34,396, in 1854, to 788, with a tonnage of 38,079, in 1855. The Customs exhibit a decrease of about 4,0001., arising principally from the bonding of tea having been discontinued. RIVER DEE FlSHERY.—Upwards of 10,000 fish, reared by the artificial process, which has been so successful, have been turned out into the waters of the river Dee. The young salmon were recently released from the ponds where they had been reared. The spawn from which they were raised was laid down in appropriate boxes a year ago ; it vivified in April last, and after remaining in the boxes for a month the fry found their way down to the ponds, where they attained a length of many inches. This mode of replenishing our rivers has been found to answer in the Wye, where large numbers arti ficially reared have been turned into the waters. ACCIDENTAL POISONING.—On Tuesday afternoon three gentlemen were accidentally poisoned at a dinner party at Provost M'lver's house, Dingwall, Scotland. It appears that the party consisted of Provost M'lver, Mr. L. M. Mackenzie, of Findon, two Catholic priests, and several ladies. After dinner, and when the ladies had retired, the gentlemen were seized with pains in the throat and mouth, and in half an hour the two priests and Mr. Mackenzie were dead. Provost M'lver was in a hopeless state yesterday morning. The case is undergoing investigation, It is-believed that the roast meat was garnished with hemlock, and that the wine excited the chemical action of the poison. The names of the priests are the Rev. James Gordon Beanley and the Rev. Angus Mackenzie Eskdale. Mr. Mackenzie was about to become son-in-law to Lord Lovat. None of the ladies were affected. THE WEL@g IRON TRADE.—The ironworks generally throughout South Wales are in full employ, not only in the manufacture of rails and bars, but also of pig iron. Large orders for rails have been taken by those works which roll rails, at from Si. 10e. to 91. 10s. per ton, and there is every appearance of prices holding up. Pig iron has experienced a slight advance, and the market is stiffer, and as orders ara coming in pretty freely a good trade is anticipated. The works are in full activity, and in several localities extensions of premises are going on. In one locality four new blast furnaces are about to be erected, and in one instance old works have resumed making. RE-ISSUE OF THREEPENNY PIECES iron MANCHESTER. —A memorial has been got up by several influential gentlemen in this city, includin g e , his worship the Mayor, the bankers, an d th e chairmen of the Chamber of Com merce and the Commercial Association, and a large number of m erc h an t s , pray i ng t h e aut h or iti es t o or d er a re-issue of threepenny pieces as soon as possible. This class of coin is of the utmost value to the trade and com merce of this locality for the payment of small sums. When they are plentiful, a firm can pay hundreds of men and women their wages without requiring more than a dozen or two dozen pieces of copper coin. —Manchester Examine).. SEIZURE OF A SUPPOSED RUSSIAN VESSEL—CHAT HAM, Jan. 23.—The Prussian ship Richard, which Caine up the river Medway with the Prussian colours flying from her masthead, came to the dockyard with a cargo of tar from Gefle. She has since been detained by the Custom-house authorities of Rochester, and some seamen belonging to her Majesty's ship Wellesley, 72 guns, the ordinary guard-ship at this port, have been placed in her as a guard on the suspicion of her being a Russian ship. THE LEASE OF THE STIRLING AND DUNFERMLINE RAILWAY. —The shareholders will be glad to learn that the arbiter under the Act of Parliament, Mr. Miller, after a most minute and searching investigation, has at length issued and lodged in process his decision as t.) the expense ot, the main portion of the line. This will etiable the company to obtain their long-expected divi dend without further delay. —SoottiA Railway accotee. LATEST NEWS. MARSEILLES, JAN. 24. Accounts from Constantinople, of the 14th, and from the Crimea, cf the 12th, have been received by the Thabor. On the 9th the firing continued on both sides of Sebastopol. The Allies have blown up two of the docks. The Russians are taking up their winter quar ters at Simpheropol and Bakshi-Serai. The news from Kinbourn is to the effect that the Russians had 30,000 men in echelon, between Petrosska and Okchakoff, and that in consequence fears were entertained of an attack on the fortress of Kinbourn. The garrison had been reinforced by troops under the command of General Lebuf. The flotilla was frozen in, but would aid in the defence, if the Russians should attempt the place. General Virian fearing to b© attacked at Kertch, has called for officers of infantry and artillery to be despatched to him from Constan- tinople. Conferences have been held in order to adjus the first and fourth points relating to the Princi palities. The persons who took part in these conferences were Aali Pacha, Grand Vizier ; Fuad Pacha, Minister for Foreign Affairs ; Prince Callimaki, M. Thouvenal, Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, and Baron de Prokesch. The following is the text of the ultimatum addressed to the Court of Persia by Mr. Murray : 1. The Government shall restore to liberty the Princess, wife of Mirza. 2. That it shall acknowledge Mirza as Consul for the Queen of England. 3. That the Prince Minister of the Schah shall proceed to the residence of the English Embassy, to offer an apology, and withdraw his offensive note. Mr. Murray, in spite of some resistance, has left an agent at Teheran, and has threatened to support him by an English fleet in the Persian Gulf. The Eldorado has landed some Russian cannon hero from Kamiesh. HAMBURG, JAN. 24. An imperial ukase has been promulgated at St. Petersburg, decreeing the issue of ten new series of paper money, each of three million silver roubles. At the same time eight series formerly drawn aro renewed, making altogether 5 4 FRANCE. PARIS, THURSDAY EVENING. Yesterday evening an interesting ceremony took place at the British Embassy. Lord Cowley dis tributed to a limited number of French naval and military officers the Order of the Bath, which her Majesty has thought proper to bestow upon them for their distinguished services in the field and on the sea. BOURSE, Jan. 24, Two o'Clock.—The market has been very buoyant, it having been stated that the diplomatic conferences would take place at Paris, and that the armistice had been signed yes terday at Vienna for three months. The Threes improved from 68f. 90c. to 69f. 40c. The Mobilier has been done at 1,475 f. Railway Shares wore also in demand, but without an important improvement in prices. Half-past Three.—The Threes have closed a 69f. 50c. Money was more abundant in the market, The following aro the last quotations : Cash. fr. s. 4i per Cents 94 75 End of Month. -f. --c. 3 - per Cents 69 20 69 50 New Loan 7O Bank Shares 3250 Roman Credit Mobilior 1460 Austrian Belgian Fivea ...... Spanish Throws Piedmonteee(s)... .. 85 50 Home Debt RAILWAYS-I'OR CA.511. fr. c. c Orleans ... l2lO Western 797 53 Northern Lyons Niediterranesn 1330 Grand Central! 609 Lyons Geneva 7lO Testo .... . .. 630 Cette AUSTRIA. VIENNA, Jan. 21.—There is to-day no news worthy of mention, excepting that the most stre nuous efforts are now being made to induce Eng land not to insist on Russia's disarming the east ern coast of the Black Sea. In diplomatic circles complaints are made of " the inconceivable obsti nacy" (unbegreiflichen Starsinn) displayed by Sir Hamilton Seymour in this matter, and it may therefore be concluded that lie does not consider it advisable that Great Britain should obey the behests of a Power which will largely partake of the pro fits, although it has not shared in any of the dangers of the war. It is clearly understood that the consuls of the Allied Powers aro to be allowed to reside at the different Russian ports in the Black Sea, and it is probable that Austria 'also agrees with the Western Powers in thinking that Russia must pledge her self never again to fortify the Aland Islands. The Austrians are extremely desirous to have the pre liminaries of peace signed off hand, but it is fore seen that the British Government will not consent to do so until a perfectly clear and satisfactory in terpretation has been g i ven t o the fifth proposition. RUSSIA. The Constitutionnel publishes the following let• ter, dated St. P e tersburg, Jan. 16, in the evening. It gives an account of the effect produced at the Russian capital by the Czar's acceptance of the Austrian proposals " A report is going the round like wildfire. The Emperor is said to have given his adhesion to th e Austrian 'ultimatum. No one will believe it to be true. Nevertheless, it is so. No member of the Imperial family, or of the Council of the Empire, not one of the Ministers, not even M. de Nessel rode, could have predicted this morning the pacific reply of the Czar Alexander IL " For the last two days Prince Alexander Gort schakoff, the Russian Envoy at Vienna, has kept the telegraph in continual play, appealing to the good sentiments of the Russian Government in favour of peace. He pointed out the serious con sequences that would result from a categorical refusal. "This morning the Emperor Alexander sent for the Chancellor and M. de Seniavin, to make them acquainted with the d ec i s i on h e h a d a d o pted, and his wish that it should be immediately communi cated to Count Valentine Esterhazy. it was the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who was charged to take the note to the Austrian Pleni potentiary. At the same time, a summary of the note was forwarded by telegraph to Vienna. " Count Nesselrode's notification to Count Ester hazy commenced as follows : " In giving an additional proof of the pacific sentiments which animate him in the interest of the balance of power of Europe his Majesty, my august master, has wished to testify publicly the price he attaches to consolidating the bonds of friendship which unite him to the Court of Vienna and to the other Courts of Europe.' " The Emperor Alexande r a pp ears to have con sulted no one but himself in these grave circum stances. He has just charged the Grand Duke Nicholas with the delioate mission of cornmunicat in, his decision to his brother, the Grand Admiral Constantine. We shall only know to-morrow at St. Petersburg what passed at that interview. " At the moment I write Cabinet couriers are starting in all directions with despatches for the different Sovereigns of Central Europe. " The r epresentatives of the Foreign States at the Russian Court are on their way to the Chan cery, to congratulate the Government of the Em peror. Count Valentine Esterhazy was not the l as t. He seems much rejoiced at the unforeseen issue of his mission ; but he found M. de Nessel rode very reserved, and by no means disposed to give way to ebullitions of tenderness. " On returning to his chambers, Count Valentine Esterhazy sat down to draw up the report, which he forwards to - morrow to the Cabinet of Vitt:into and which - will be intrusted to the care of his first secretary, M. SzechenYi. " The impression produced on the population of the capital by the news of the decision of the Czar is precisely this —great incredulity among the lower classes, and in the higher classes, where passing events are known sooner and better, profound astonishment and some expressions of discontent. " All that remains to be done now is to fix the place where the conferences are to meet, for which the text of the Russian official note will serve as a basis, with the diplomatist who will represent Russia at them. The name of the latter is whis pered about, some say Admiral Prince Menschikoff, but I think that is a bad joke ; others M. de Boutenieff, the Privy Councillor. I willingly in cline to believe it may be the latter. " I have no other news to communicate to-day. Groups are assembling in the streets, discussing the, great news. A great number openly manifest their satisfaction, but the ' Old Russians,' the partisans of war at all price, are in consternation, and do not hesitate to declare that the Emperor Alexander 11. will not find a diplomatist who will affix his signature to a peace concluded under such circumstances." PORTUGAL. SOUTHAMPTON, JAN 24. By the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Tagus we receive dates from Lisbon to the 19th inst. Her Majesty's ship St. George and the French steamer Newton were the only vessels of war in port. Several vessels continued to put in daily in consequence of the stormy weather on the coast. The exchanges for this packet are quoted—Lon don, 541 ; Paris, 521 ; Amsterdam, 431 ; Ham burg, 481 ; Genoa, 519. Transactions were very limited, both money and bills being equally scarce. Southampton and share markets very dull. Por tuguese Three per Cents., Coupons, 42 to 43 ; re gistered, 421 to 43 ; Bank of Portugal shares, par to 1 per cent. premium ; Bank of Oporto shares, 17 to 20 per cent. premium. The Portuguese Cortes are to meet again to-day and continue the session, which had been suspended until the completion of the financial report and the new ar rangements with the Santarem Railway Company and the contractors. Rain continues to pour down as if it had only just commenced, instead of having been almost incessant for the last four months. Much distress has already been caused principally along the banks of rivers ; houses and walls have given way in the towns, and earthquakes have prevailed, principally in the Algarves, but without doing any serious damage. THE PENINSULAR MAILS. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam packet Tagus arrived at Southampton yesterday, with the Peninsular mails. Her dates were Gib raltar Jan. 16, Cadiz 17, Lisbon 19, Vigo 20. She did not communicate with Oporto. The Tagus brought 36 passengers. The Peta left Lisbon with the India and China mails on the 19th inst., having been detained there in quarantine and to make repairs ten days. This month has been of a very stormy descrip tion along the Peninsular coast, involving much loss of life and property. There were 14 vessels on shore when the packet left Gibraltar, and some 20 more wrecks were reported at the telegraph sta tion at Cadiz, having chiefly occurred on the 9th inst., along the south-west coast. On entering the latter port the wrecks of two vessels appear above water, nearly in mid-channel. Found and left all the ports filled with weather-bound vessels, and some damaged ones. An unprecedented quantity of rain had fallen. Thick rainy weather was pre vailing, and variable winds, chiefly from the south west. The Tagus left Vigo with a strong westerly gale and threatening weather, which continued to the Channel. At Vigo, on Jan. 11, was H.M.S. Transit ; Gib raltar, on the 16th, H.M.S. Transit left Gibraltar for the eastward ; at Lisbon, on the 19th, was H.M.S. St. George. Shortly before the packet left Lisbon the British ship Ben Muick Dhui, after clearing from London for Bolivia, had occasion to put into Lisbon in dis tress, three men having bee n was h e d over b oar d i n a gale. She was ordered into quarantine ground ; there was no sickness on board ; but being short handed, the vessel broke from the exposed situa tion, was driven on shore off Belem, and but for timely assistance from H.M.S. St. George and a steamer must have been l os t. Th e word of the doctor and captain was insufficient. A vessel may be wrecked or lives lost—what matter ? A few Portuguese authorities get enriched. This, too, from a nation which owes its existence to us. It is surely high time for British interference. The following vessels had lately put into Lisbon damaged :—The Canada, from London for Madras ; Lel va, from Newcastle for Havana ; Guillelmo, from Messina, for Bristol ; Greyhound, from Gibraltar for Newfoundland ; Louise, from Swansea for Bom bay ; George (French brig), from Monte Video for Havre. In foreign exchanges the following are the last quotations :—London at 30 days 544-; 90 days, 54i. Hamburg at 3 months' date, 43it049. Amsterdam, at 3 months' date, 43k. Genoa, at 2 months' date, 512. Paris, at 100 days, 521. The operations on London were of a very limited amount, both paper and money being scarce, owing in a great measure to the stoppage of all business from the very bad weather. On the continent business is also very dull. In the stock market a considerable decline has occurred both in government securities and bank shares, having all fallen about 1 per cent, since last mail. They are now as follows :—Three per Cent. Inscriptions, 421 to 421. Coupons, 42 to 1. Bank of Portugal shares from par to 1 per cent. premium. Bank of Oporto shares from 15 to 17 per cent. pre mium. Bank of Lisbon notes 1 per cent. premium. GREAT LOSS OF SHIPPING. CADIZ, Jan. 17.—Several persons belonging to a Bri tish ship left this port for Buenos Ayres, and was wrecked a few nights ago towards the coast of the island, have arrived here. The French schooner Jeune Nanon, of 74 tons, Capt. Mas 4, with a crew of 6, and a cargo of lead from Adra for Nantes, has gone ashore towards the south o f t h e Torre Gorda, and broke to pieces on the spot. The cap tain and first and second mates were drowned, and three of the sailors, who seized hold of a plank, were driven on shore, but succeeded in saving themselves ; they were conveyed to the hospital in an almost lifeless state. The French brig Fenix, with a crew of 10, from Mar seilles, bound to Holland, was wrecked at midnight on the Bth. She struck on the rocks near St. Sebastian Castle, breaking immediately to atoms. Two of the crew were drowned, and eight saved themselves with the assistance of ropes thrown to them from the castle. The Portucuose schooner Camois Segundo, of 88 tons, Machado, master, in ballast, from St. Übes, went ashore yesterday beyond La Cortadurs. On the morning of the 6th, the French brigantine ' Marie Louise, Captain Gallen, in ballast, from Cette and Gibraltar, bound to Casabianca, was wrecked off Cape Trafalgar—crew saved. Early in the morning of the 9th, the British barque John, Captain James Farthing, from Liverpool for Gibraltar, was wrecked on the east shore of Conil ; she is dismasted, and cargo, &1., damaged. Of the ten in dividuals who composed her crew, seven were saved, and three drowned, including the captain. The French schooner Ag lae Ross, of 99 tons, C apta i n Constant, with a crew of seven (captain included), an d a cargo of lead, from Carthagena from Rouen, f oun d ered on the coast of Chipiona in the night of the 5th —crew saved in the boat. The British ship Phcenix, of 330 tons, Captain Robert Parsons, laden with wheat, from Alexandria, and which was seen on the morning of the 11th, anchored off the mouth of the old canal , parted from her mo or i ngs dur ing the night, and was observed thi s morning sunk op posite Saint Philip's Point ; the crew, twelve in number; were saved in launches sent by the captain of the port. At three o'clock in the morning of the 10th, the San dinian brig Francisca Catalina, from the Brazils to Gibraltar, with a cargo of coffee and a crew of twelve, went to pieces nine miles distant from the coast of Conil ; one of the crew, named Domingo Esporra,_ saved himself on a plank—the fate of the others is not known. On the Bth, a brig which had left Gibraltar went ashore off Cape Trafalgar —crow saved on the coast of Voger. On the morning of the same day a Portuguese schooner from Madeira, bound to Mogador, was wrecked on the east side of Cape Trafalgar—crew sawed. French ship, Jeune Susanne, Master Vincent Clune , , with a general cargo for Marseilles, wrecked near Kotu. Crew saved. French ship, France et Angleterre, wrecked at Cabo de Pinta. French brig L'Ami, Master Le Doux, wrecked at en trance o f th e G tm d a lqui ver . C rew saved. • American ship,' MPtenr, of Boston, Master E. P Spragup, from New York for Marseilles, with wheat, wrecked near Chichorra. Crew saved. Ayrshire Laos (nation not named), Master Mont gomery, from Alexandria, w ith w h ea t for Queenstown, put into Cadiz on 17th inst. ; cargo shifted, having thrown the vessel on her beam-ends. GIBRALTAR, JAN. 16. Twelve wrecks were to be seen on the West Beach, and two off the King's Bastion ; amongst which were the Mecklenburg brig Tuavia, 13den with wheat, for Cork—crew on board of Tagus ; American barque Jer mott, with rags, for New Orleans. The Durham (s.s.), laden with Government stores from London for Balaklava, coaled at the New Mole yesterday, and left for her destination during the even ing. Her Majesty's steamer Spitfire and steam trans ports Prince of Wales and Levant, likewise took in coal and left for England. The British Barque Sea, Robert Duncan master, which arrived yesterday from Sunderland with coals for Gibraltar, fell in with, on the 7th instant, the British schooner Zephyretta, of London,lSamuel Parnell, master, with loss of rudder, sails, and in a leaky state, bound from Cadiz to Southampton, with a cargo of wine. Cap tain Duncan took the waster and crew of the Zephyretts ;, „L on board after abandoning her on the same day - in lat. 43 15 N., lon. 12 W. On the passage of the barque afterwards to this place she ran short of water, aid, during the last 48 hours before anchoring in the bay, had not a drop left. When the barbour•master visited the Sea Captain Duncan, with four of the sail ors , g ot into a bo a t an d went alongside the Samarang guard ship, where he was supplied with a few gallons of water. PROSPECTS OF PEACE. A letter from St. Petersburg, dated the 17th inst., states as follows :-- " I now add some further details to my letter of yesterday, which was written in great haste, and under the first impression of the important news which has astonished this city. The Moderate party says nothing about it, and its leaders maintain great reserve. The War party is very violent, and openly accuses Prince Gortscbakoff of treason, and speaks of Austria with the utmost bitterness—of Austria saved by Russia in 1849. According to these men, Russia cannot accept a peace which will cost her a part of her territory, and impose on her the most humiliating of all conditions, that of razing her for tresses along the coast of a sea which is a Russian lake, and this before they avenged the honour of their arms by an exploit different from that of Kars ;—a peace, in fine, which will finish, once for all, with the influence which they have exercised in Germany for more than a quarter of a century. The old Russian predicts a convulsion if the Emperor signs, without being constrained by force of arms, the conditions prepared by Count Esterbazy. In fact, the conduct of the Czar gives rise to the strangest versions. Some suppose that the Cabinet of St. Petersburg has, as before, accepted the Austrian conditions only with the intention of separat ing the particular interests of Germany from the general interests of Europe as represented by the Western Powers. Others pretend that no Russian diplomatist will sign a treaty of peace on these bases, for, according to them, we are fir distant from 1634 and 1711, when, by the treaty of Weasina Vadislas, the King of Poland forbade the Czar Michail, the founder of the Romanoff dynasty, to assume the title of Autocrat of All the Rtts sias, and when, by the treaty of the Pruth, Achmet obliged Peter I. to raze the fortresses of Taganrog, Camenoi-Zatoum, and Sumara. " Such are the' remarks just now among the chief of the Russian party, defeated as they are. The capital is much agitated since yesterday. According to the sys tem of compensation which appears to have become for some time the rule of conduct of our Government, Prince Alexander Gortschakoff may soon be recalled from Vienna, as his cousin has been fr om the Crimea. "As to the interview between the two younger brothers of the Czar on the subject of the resolution which the Grand Duke Nicholas was commissioned to make to the Grand Admiral, and which interview took place this morning only, was of a very violent character. In spite of what is said to the contrary, the news is offi cial and certain, and the Czar has declared formally that the Austrian propositions were to be the bases of ulte rior pacific negotiations, and for the present may be considered as the true preliminaries of peace. " It was no doubt to avoid painful explanations with the Grand Duke Constantine that the Emperor sent hint his brother Nicholas. He has even the precaution to let his decision reach Vienna by the telegraph, and also the official note of the Chancery reach M. Esterhazy, before exposing himself to domestic scenes which could only annoy and afflict him, but not change his resolu• tion. "The Grand Duke Constantine is greatly irritated against his brother. The Vice-Royalty of Poland, re served for the Grand Duke Nicholas, and which, accord ing to usage. should fall to his lot, is no small cause of his irritA on. Placed at the head cf the eccentric faction of the Russian party of those who are named the In tractable, the Grand Admiral thought he should make himself popular, but has not succeeded, while his bro ther Nicholas enjoys an indisputable popularity. This young Prince, loved hitherto for himself, has seen the affection of the people increase in consequence of his marriage with the Princess Alexander-Petrowna, daughter of Prince Peter of Oldenburg." PRIVATE AND JOINT-STOCK BANKS. The Bankers' Magazine furnishes the returns of circu lation of the private and joint-stock banks in England and Wales for the four weeks ending the 22d of Dec., 1855, and gives the following as the average weekly cir culation of those banks during the past month, viz. : Private banks ..... Joint-stock banks 3,058,165 Average weekly circulation £6,901,153 On comparing the above with the returns for the pre ceding month, ending the 24th of Nov. last, it shows— A. decrease in the circulation of the private banks of £138,922 A. decrease in the circulation of the joint-stock banks of 62,338 Decrease on the month And, as compared with the return for the correspond ing period of the preceding year—viz., Dec. 23, 1854, it shows— A. decrease in the circulation of the private banks of a 069 A decrease in the circulation of the joint-stock banks of 14,573 Decrease on the year On comparing th e ab ove w ith th e amounts o f the fixed issues, the following appears to be the comparative state of the circulation : The private banks are below their fixed issues £750,729 The joint-stock banks are below theii fixed issues 257,973 Total below their fixed i55ue5........ £1,008,707 LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) LONDON, Jan. 25.—Wind this day at noon, S.W. strong breeze and tine. POIiTSMOUTH, Jan: 24.—Wind W.S.W., blowing sh gale.—Arrived—Wide Awake, from Malta ; Jane and Isabella, London, for Hong Kong; Irene, London, for Hobart Town ; Forestor, London, for the West Indies ; Herald of the Morning, London, for Nobile. A vessel of about 15 tons, not coppered, bottom upwards, was seen yesterday, 10 miles S. by W. of the Owers. PLYMOUTH, Jan. 24.—Wind S.W. ; it blew a heavy gale to-day, but is now more moderate.—Arrived—Louisa, from St. Domingo, for Hamburg, leaky ; Star of Peace, London, for Sydney, N.S.W., with loss of maintopmast. FALMOUTH, Jan. 24.—Wind W. to W.S.W., violent gale, with squalls. Arrived— Somorrostro, from Havana, leaky ' • Rigroa, London, for Si erra L eone ; Eureka, Lon don, for New York. SHOREHAM, Jan. 24 . — Arrived.—Laura, from Shields, for Cette, brought in dismasted, having been run into by a large three-masted vessel, on the 23d, nine miles east of the Isle of Wight. WEYMOUTH, Jan. 24.—The Goodwill, of Portsmouth, came on shore near the Old Castle, and is in a perilous position ; cargo is being saved. Cowes, Jan. 24.—Wind S.W., a gale.—Arrived---- Earl of Shaftesbury, from London, for Calcutta. MARGATE, Jan. 24.—The Charles Louis, from London, for Brest, which got on the French Rock, yesterday, has come off. (Pelt ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SouTnAmProN, Friday Morning. Arrived—Alliance, (s.), from Havre; Pet, Shields ; Fox, and Twyford, Newport; Breeze, Plymouth • Eleanor, .1 ersey ; Onosera, Swansea ; City of Limerick, (steamer), London. LIVERPOOL, Friday Morning. Wind W. Arrived.—Matilda, from Calcutta ; Fleetwood and Francis, Bahia ; Pathfinder, Maranham ; Dusty Miller, Alexandria; Lizzy Garrow, Messina; Gnelhelmina, Per• nawbuco. Wind S. QUEEN STOWN, Jan. 23. Arrived —Lone Star and Olive, from Callao ; Spray, Paraiba ; George Caday, Trieste; Ector, Syra ; Brewer, New York. Br SUBMARINE ANL BRITISH TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Friday, 10.15 a.m. Wind W.S.W.; tido, low water. Arri vcd, Jan. 25—John May, from Rouen. DEAL, Friday, 9.47 a.m. Wind W.S.W. Passed Dungeness, 24th—North Star, from China, for London • Isabella, St; John's, London. Passed—Driving Mist, brig, from Westward, for London. Anchored—John Bonda, from Madras, for London. Tho Cybolla, from Berbice, for London, has lost her anchor and 30 fathoms of chain, and is about being sup plied with others. LORD CHANCELLOR'S COURT.—FRIDAY, Jan. 25, 1856 —.The Lord Chancellor this morning intimated to the 4,entlemen of the Bar that he would not sit with the Lords Justices to-morrow, as he was obliged to rise early. His lordship will hear appeals by himself to morrow, and with the Lords Justices on Monday. A MATRIMONIAL CASE.—On Monday week, a young man named Thomas Mercer, a butcher, in good business in Chester, was taken into custody at Wrexham, when about to be sworn in as assistant-overseer of the district where he resides, on the charge of perjury, he havi n g sworn before the surrogate that his wife, to whom he was newly married, was twenty-one years of age. The in formation on which this charge wad preferred was laid by the wife's father, a retired publican, named Davis, who had been averse to the marriage of his daughter with Mercer. The latter was not liberated until he had riven bail to the amount of 4001. for his appearance. The case was beard at Wrexham on Monday, when the Rev. Mr. Cunliffe, the surrogate, deposed to prescribing Ole oaths to the defendant, who distinctly swore that the young lady, his bride, was twenty-one years of age. Mr. William Davis, the father of Mrs. Mercer, -aid his daughter was nineteen years of age. He did not know of the marriage until after it had taken place. The Rev. A. J. Bruce, curate, deposed to marrying the couple in th e par i s h church f Gresford, is the latter end of December. For the defence, Mr. Bretherton strongly urged that no evidence had been produced to show that Mr. Mercer had " knowingly, wittingly, and falsely" sworn that which was untrue, or that he was in possession of information to enable him to form a correct estimate of the young woman's age. lie then called several witnesses, who all spoke to the defendant's good character. The magistrates said they were bound to send the case for trial. Mr. Mercer was then bound over in 200/., and two sureties in 1001. each, to appear at the next Ruthin assizes. The court was crowded during the hearing of the case, and the young bride, who was veiled, was a special object of attraction. The young husband was regarded as a per ,ecuted man, and on leaving the court he was warmly greeted by a number of friends who sympathised with him.—Manchester Examiner. lard rut son yar last the: in I T 1 publ of sh tonn with the ] J ant and Tent ports with num discc 5 pei Acti' 21, to ' are pric, tran to r i •VOI Nor bees 110011 Banl 3 pe 3 pc New Long Indi Ind; r_lont PR] Awl Bra Grel Atte3 Per Por RUE San