The Sun. — London, England, 1856-01-02 00:00:00

Spirit of the Public Journals. (From Me Times of this day.) It is right at the commencement of a new year plainly to net before our Statesmen, our Generals, and our Admirals that which the country expects from their hands, and without which the war may be found quite as unfavourable to the powers that rule in England as to the powers that rule in Rus sia. The British aristocracy have the conduct of the war in all its branches. Success will confirm the social and political position of our upper classes, and strengthen the throne of a limited monarchy, which can only exist when surrounded by aristocratic institutions ; failure—such a failure as would indelibly fix upon our governing classes the stigma of incapacity, and of that obstinacy which is incapable of remodelling what is obsolete to meet what is new and urgent—would shake the firmest institutions and bring doubt into the most settled convictions. We must look to it, for good and evil are alike before us. The prospects of peace with which we have been amused for the last month recede before us like the lake that only exists in the mirage of the desert. While we have been agreeing on conditions, the foundations of which is the pacification of the Black Sea, and tracing on the map the new fron tier which we are disposed to allow to our adver sary, the Court of Russia has had other dreams, and announces far other grounds of pacification. With unheard-of and intolerable insolence, Russia announces in the same breath that she assents to the third condition of the Conferences of Vienna, —that is, to put an end to her preponderance in the Black Sea,.—aid that, with the view of carry ing this condition into execution, she consents to exclude the Western Powers from that sea alto gether, and to leave it to be navigated by so many Russian ships of war as Turkey and Russia may between themselves agree upon. Such a propo s iti on i s no t an over t ure ,— i t is an insult. The offer of peace on such terms is a new outrage--a fresh provocation to war. What can be hoped from negotiation with a Power which, after such a series of reverses as have fallen upon Russia since the olose of the Vienna Con ferences—her armies defeated, her finances de ranged, her fleet destroyed, her coasts ravaged, her rivers beset and blockaded—can find no terms except such as she might impose had victory fol lowed her standards as pertinaciously as defeat ? To exclude the Allies from the sea that they have made their own, in order to give back the dominion over it to a fleet that is buried beneath its waves, to regulate the equipoise of power between herself and Turkey by a convention to which the principal belligerents are to be no parties, to leave the cause of European independence to the keeping of the treachery, the timidity, or the venality of the Divan, are terms so disastrous and ignominious that we must lose more fleets and armies than Russia has lost before we can stoop so low—before we can regard such terms as anything else than a fresh outrage and a fresh provocation. We have just offered fresh terms to Russia. If she accept them it is well. If she do not accept them, but seek to entangle us in negotiation, we only express the earnest wish of the nation when we trust that no such opportunity will be afforded her. She has just given a convincing proof that her wild ambi tion is not yet tamed sufficiently to hear reason, and that she must suffer more before she can be awakened from her dreams of vanity and ambition. Assuming, then, the war as all but certain, with what weapons are we to carry it on ? The pride, the safety of the nation, has hitherto been the naval service. Never have our fleets been so costly and so splendid. The substitution of steam for sails, and the enormously increased value of the commerce which the allied fleets have had to protect, have induced and justified a scale of naval expenditure unknown to the patriotism or the pro digality of former ages. In the late war the ships of England went everywhere and did everything. " Wherever wood can swim," said Napoleon, " there is sure to be found au English cruiser." With incredible daring and success, with only the uncertain winds and treacherous wave.; to rely on, they entered every harbour and scrutinised every creek, and, provided they could get in, never troubled themselves with the superfluous consideration how they were to get out again. But it seems that science, by increasing our powers, has diminished our boldness. We are so careful of our splendid steam-ships that we dare not use th em, and feats that Nelson, with his lumbering men-of war, would at last have attempted, our admirals dare not even contemplate. The whole spirit of the naval profession seems changed. From the most daring it has become the most cautions—from the most dangerous, the safest of professions. The blood of our army has flowed like water, but short and bloodless have been the annals of naval car nage. The man who fishes for whales or drives an engine should have a stout neart ; but weak in deed must be the nerves that cannot face the pro spect of a Baltic naval campaign. Our steamers can move at the rate of twelve miles an hour ; in ten minutes they can be in action from a place of perfect safety ; in ten minutes they can retire from action again. War has as yet seen nothing like the opportunity for dashes and surprises, for sudden onslaughts and rapid retreats, for testing the strength of an enemy and thoroughly recon noitring his position in the best possible way, by at tacking it, which the invention of steam affords,. The most watchful enemy must often be surprised by such tactics, and when not surprised must he kept in constant state of restlessness and alarm. But we seem terrified at the potency of our new agent, and, instead of raising our minds to con ceptions worthy of the gigantic power we em ploy have succeeded in dwarfing it down to the puny notions that passed current in the days of sails and oars. We learn with satisfaction that Admiral Dendas has been directed to haul down his flag. Such a direction is no censure, but it gives an opportunity for considering whether a more efficient successor cannot be found, and breaks the claim which is so apt to grow up out of the command of one year to the command in the next. The English navy has its laurels to win, and for the English navy not to win those laurels in two years is, in fact, to lose them. We have left ourselves but little space to speak of our army; but we are not without apprehensions that, having suffered in 1851 from being too lean, it may suffer in 1856 from being too fat. Then it was starved, now it run some danger of being cod dled. The laudable desire to efface in the comforts of the present the miseries of the past seems not unlikely to deprive our troops altogether of the power of locomotion. An army that cannot move without 40,000 beasts of burden, 40,000 drivers, mechanics, navvies, and we know not how many other ancillary corps, is in great danger of never moving at all. Our men aro in splendid condition, and want nothing, we really believe, but example and opportunity ; but it is hard to obtain these under generals to whom everything is iinro If we do move we shall carry with us a camp better worth sacking than all the cities of Russia put together, and may possibly find, when too late, that we have offered irresistible temptations to the depredators in the vast multi tude of all nations that swarm around us. A mid tary system that was not robust enough to bear the trials of a siege is not likely to regain credit in a campaign in the open field. But the attempt must be made, and the nation will never endure that the spring and summer of 1856 should be wasted in the same inglorious inaction as the autumn that has just passed away. (From lice Morning Herald of this day.) _ . The Brussels organ of the Russian Government has given to the world a circular issued from . the Russian Chancery, and dated the 22d December. It announces the terms on which the Emperor will consent to the third of the four bases ; those terms being— "l. The principle of the closing of the Straits is to be maintained. " 2 . No flag of war shall be admitted into the Black Sea, except that of the naval for ce s w hi c h Russia and Turkey may think it advisable to main tain there by common agreement. "3. Th e amount o f these f orces w i ll be fixed by a dir ect agreeme n t b e t ween R uss i a an d Turkey, without the ostensible participation of the °tint. powers." There is no doubt, we believe, of this announce ment of Le N er d . And we need not say that such provisions for the third point of guarantee ought to be scouted by the Western Governments. They furnish abundant evidence of this, that the Auto crat is resolved not to abate one iota of his original pretensions, and that h e i s b ent upon maintaining th a t supremacy in the Black Sea of which it is one chief object of the war to deprive Russia at once and for ever. In a recent article we had occasion to refer to certain c omments in the Ost Deutsche P os t relative to th e Austr i an interpretation of th e Propositions r upon by the Western Powers, an d e subse c ently agreed quently submitted to the Russian interpre tation by th e Austr i an envo y. Now that defi nes the English version of the proposi tions respecti ng the reduct i on of the Russian po wer in the Euxine as a " continuation of the treaty which provided for the closing of the Dardanelles against foreign ships of war." That interpretation agrees in a remarkable manner with the sense of this circular of the Russian Government. It JS clear as the light of d ay that the Cabinets of Vi enna and of St. Petersburg ar e agreed upon the terms to be held out f or , and it is equally manifest that those terms are absurdly the prime objeet of the war. incompatible with But the Austrian interpretation in question is (Front the Morning Post of this lay. ) We publish in another column the most im portant paragraph of a circular recently issued to the Russian diplomatic agents. We believe we may add to the information therein contained, that when the Cabinet of St. Petersburg heard of the intended movement of Austria, for the purpose of promoting the resumption of peace negotiations, it was thought advisable to in form that Power of the views of Russia upon the subject ; and accordingly Prince Gortschakoff, some weeks ago, announced to Count Buol that Russia would be now willing to resume the Conferences of Vienna at the point at which they had seen broken off; and he then declared to Count 13nol that which is now made public in the circular of the Russian Fo • reign-office, viz., that Russia was ready to consent to the third of "the Four Points," which it will be remembered had for object to " put an end to the preponderance of Russia in the Black Sea," and on the manner of effecting which object the belligerents could not agree. England and France insisted on limiting the Russian fleet. The Russians as steadily refused to allow what they considered an infringement of the honour and dignity of Russia. The war therefore went on. Kertch, Kinbourn,Eupatoria, Sebastopol can tell the results—the Russian fleet is rotting under water. Yet now the Czar graciously conde scends to make known to Europe that he is ready to consent to the limitation of the Russian and Turkish naval forces by a treaty with Turkey, in which treaty the other Powers are to have no ostensible participation; and this only on the condi tion of the Dardanelles being closed in future to the flags of France and England. Now, in the first place, by this offer, Russia directly contravenes the spirit and the letter of the Third Point, of which the first object was, through a revision by all the Powers of the Treaty of the Dardanelles, to bring Turkey into the family of European nations, and constitute her a substantive portion of the States interested in maintaining the balance of p ower . I n th e secon d p l ace, to stipu late, after all that has occurred, that while the Russian flag is to float in the Black Sea, uncon trolled —save by an agreement with Turkey—the flags of England and France are to be excluded from its watera, is simply to laugh at us. We presume Count Buol felt this, as he has not ventured to submit to the 'Western Powers a pro position which savours more of useless imperti nence than of the artful plausibility in which Rus sian diplomatists are generally such distinguished adepts. Count Buol, however, in the interest of peace, made it his business to ascertain what terms the 'Western Powers would insist on requiring from Russia. Having done this, and Austria approving of them, they have been sent in the form of an Austrian ultimatum to St. Petersburg. The general outline of these terms, which were first communi cated to the public in the Morning Post of Decem ber 4, embrace, it will be remembered the neutral isation of the Black Sea, the cession to Turkey of the mouths of the Danube, the renunciation of Protectorates, and the undertaking. not to rebuild Bomarsund. Now, while thinking it possible she might yield on the other points, we are certain, in spite of her issuing this last circular, that Russia would accept tke neutralisation of the Black Sea—indeed she has given this to be understood—provided that the uani mous voice of Europe press it upon her authorita tively ; but this is next to an impossibility—Austria will, and Prussia won't. Here, then, already among the Great Powers is a decisive difference. It is true that Baron Werther, the Prussian Minister at St. Petersburg, has instructions to " support Count Esterhazy's proposition in a sense favourable to peace ;" but the word should not be "support," it should be " enforce," otherwise it is valueless— and, indeed, it is hardly doubtful but that it is meant to be so. Under these circumstances we can scarcely ex pect the Czar to accede to the Austrian ultima tum. It is plain, however, that the Autocrat has not hastily rejected the propositions, as the tele graph is yet silent on the point, and they therefore still lie under his c•nsideration. But, however probable their rejection, we can never be certain of Russian action till the thing is done. If diploma tic ingenuity can convert the conditions into some non -natural sense, Russia may accept them for the purpose of trying by negotiation to effect dis sensions in Europe ; but she will not catch us again, though she may try. If, as is probable, she is persuaded of this, then the Cabinet of St. Peters burg may save its trouble ; and, on the one hand, seeing no hope of injuring the Allies, on the other, feeling not yet sufficiently coerced to submit, Russia may refuse the terms, and await the further decision of arms. STOPPAGE OF MESSRS. PALMER AND GREEN'S BANI, AT LICHFIELD. LICEIFIELD, Jan. I.—Yesterday afternoon tke bank of Messrs. Palmer and Green, of this city, unexpectedly stopped payment. The bank has been established for many years, and occupied a most respectable position ; Ihut it now turns out that it has been in difficulties several years, ever since the death of Mr. Palmer, who was indebted to it a largo sum, far beyond what his estate realised. Mr. Green, the surviving partner, has in vain struggled with this difficulty, which is under- stood to have been increased by the state of the money market during the last few months. Beyond this nothing is known of the immediate cause of the stop. page. On Monday the London agents of the firm de clined to extend accommodation, and at three o'clock the doors of the bank were shut. The liabilities are put down at 200,0001., and the assets at 150,000/. It is understood that the bank had many depositors, but at present it is not known what cuss of pers ons the failure will principally affect. I . 'his mornin g , at the instance of Mr. Green himself, a petition of bankruptcy Was put u p on th e fil e o f t h e Court at Birminghain, and M r. Knight, of the firm of same Mottera on uWednesdayi and Knight, will i n all probability open the professedly placed upon the English version of the recent proposals. Either the Austrian Government has grossly misrepresented those terms, or an in famous fraud has been perpetrated in the recent manifesto of the Government. The Berlin jour nals, indeed, hint that the terms actually agreed upon by the Allied Governments are not known in this country, and that when they shall be they will be found to differ materially from those put for ward by Lord Palmerston in order to bespeak sup port for his demoralised, shambling Administration against the day of account which fast approaches. The attempt is as vain as it is iniquitous ; and no warlike bluster on the part of the Minister will divert the public mind from meditated treachery, or screen its authors from the scathing indignation of this much-abused people. There iscollective testimony of the determination of this Government to force England into a peace on their own terms, which amounts almost t o de monstration of such a resolve. Weeks ago the " leading journal," now so obsequiously doing the work of the Government, raised the cry of an Ame rican war and a filibustering invasion of Ireland. That cry has been drown° i in the scream of ridicule with which it was received on the other side of the Atlantic, and has ruined any vestige of reputation f)r foresight or sagacity possessed by our contem porary in the States. On this subject, however, we shall have something more to say in a day or two. Then came the fall of Kars, and the horrible narrative of the abandonment of its devoted garri son. It is pretended that we had no means of as sisting them or the Turkish Government ; but it now appears that a first instalment of the Turkish Loan was paid into the Sultan's treasury ten days after the disaster occurred, but not till then. It is a fact also that two millions and a half of that loan are at present in Bank here, and that a considerable part of that amount has been reserved to satisfy an old debt to a Continental Government. Then, there is the whole conduct of our military opera tions—that sickening, that repulsive narrative with which we are all too familiar, our failures and losses of opportunity in the Euxine as in the Baltic ; the absence of earnestness and of energy its direct re sult, in the whole conduct of the war ; the sudden and unaccountable rise in the prices of some of the necessaries of life ; the persistent and unnatural strain upon the money market, which an Order in Council might have relieved—all these facts col lectively point to one oonclusion—that this Govern ment cannot or will not carry on the war, and finding the popular mind bent on its prosecution have been making systematic efforts to disgust this people with it, and to drive them on to a peace at any price. The Russian circular just published is not, we may be sure, the gratuitous production of the Rus sian Chancery. It has been written in view of certain proposals under consideration at St. Peters burg. These proposals, eman a ti ngas th ey d o f rom the Western powers, either are, or they are not, such as Russia ought to accept. If they are not, how did this Government come to submit them ? If they are, they are presented in the form of an ultimatum which does not admit of interpretation or conditional assent. We conclude, therefore, from this circular that the Russian Cabinet has before it at the present moment terms which are neither precise nor final, and that the Emperor believes he has but to press for such modifications as may best accord with the present condition and designs of Russia. We need not pause to charac terise a peace concluded on the terms of our enemy, nor need we point out the position of those secon dary states who have given in their adhesion to the Western policy, or are compromised in that direction in the event of a peace being no vr forced upon them. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY P.;V_EN Jl4 CI, JANUARY 2, 1856 Naval and Military Intelligence. A compilation made from the official Navy List, pub lished yesterday, shows a number amounting to 456 ships and vessels of every denomination comprising the British fleet. Of this force 301 ships and vessels are in commissio❑ and employed in different ways, as 131-gun line-of-battle ships down to the 1-gun, mortar, or gun-boat, and the steam yacht mounting no armament at all. Ten years ago we only had 233 vessels as a grand total of all classes in commission, and nearly all those were sailing vessels ; now the character of the service is so thoroughly changed that nearly all are steamers, and such few sailing ♦es sels as are yet doing duty are being set aside as fast as their terms of commission expire. Thus, this week we have that noble three-decker, the Neptune, 120, Captain Hhtton, laid up in ordinary, to make room for the more modern steam bulwark the Marlborough, 131 ; and so the work of change will progress, until a sailing man-of. war will become as great a novelty in the British fleet at sea as was the steamer at the time of the " venture" of the little Comet. The staff of the fleet has also changed with the growth of its metamorphosis, as will at once be perceived by the following statistics, showing the divi sion and subdivision of the various grades since the ter mination of the war in 1816, i❑ which year there were-- Flag officers Captains and retired ditto Commanders and re- Medical officers 1,537 Pursers I Naval instructors ...... 0 Chaplains Mates ' Second masters 0 Acting assistant-sur ' goons 56. tired ditto 894 Lieutenants 3,776 Marine officers Masters Flag officers (22 in commission) Captains (active) Captains (retired) 164 Captains on reserved list Captains of Greenwich 4 Commanders Ditto, reserved list Ditto, retired list 349 Lieutenants of Green• wick, and Naval Knights of Windsor 14 Lieutenants Ditto, oa reserved list 784 Mark 3 officers 435 Masters Ditto, refierved list Inspectors of machinery 3 Chief engineers .... . Mates l9B Second masters ..., , ll6 Chaplains ............... 159 Navalinstructors...... 90 Medical officers 592 Ditto, retired 3Ol Paymasters Assistant ditto It is estimated that we may count upon having this summer, available for the purposes of war, 40 or mere line•of-battle ships and heavy frigates of the right class, upwards of 20 corvettes and heavily -armed sloops, and upward■ of 170 gun and mortar-boats and batteries. The Baltic alone, it is inferred, will have a fleet of nearly 250 pennants over steam, and it is rumoured that Sir Ed mund Lyons will be the grand Commander-in -Chief. In glancing at the before given figures, it will strike the reader probably as curious, that whereas at the close of hostilities in 1316 there were 3,770 Lieutenants on the Navy List, we have now, when in the midst of another war, but a total of 1,97 i ; of this number, 1,778 only are represented as on the active list. The Polyphernu., 5, paddle steam-sloop, Cemmander Warren, left Spithead yesterday morning for the coast of Africa. The Transit steam-transport, Commander C. R. Johnson, R.N., having had her damages repaired, left Portsmouth again yesterday for Scutari, with the 2d Light Infantry Regiment of the British German Legion. The Great Britain and Prompt steam•transports left Portsmouth yesterday afternoon for their several home ports. The William Jackson sailing transport left Ports month yesterday afternoon for the eastward. Her Majesty's ship Neptune, 120, Capt. Hutton, will be put out of commission to-day and her crew granted leave. The paddle-wheel steam-sloop Inflexible, from the Baltic, arrived at Plymouth on Saturday and went into Hamoaze on Sunday. The screw steam-sloop Cruiser, 17, Commander the Hon. G. H. Douglas, left Plymouth Sound on Sunday, and the screw steam-ship Archer, 14, Capt. E. Heatboote, on Monday, for Hamoaze. The Albion, 90, just returned from the Mediterranean, is ordered to be dismantled at Plymouth. The freight-ship Ganymede, having embarked at Wool wich 160 tone of ammunition and shot for ballast, and filled every available space in her hold with hogsheads of winter clothing, and ambulance and other carts, and wheels on deck, for the use of the troops in the East, has .ailed for her destination. The steam-transport Durham, No. 179, having shipped an engine and boiler for Malta dockyard, Is now lying off the Arsenal at Woolwich, and is to take on board 13 guns, destined for the East. She is also to take in winter clothes, carts, wheel -t, &c., and will likewise embark a quantity of live shell, for which purpose a magazine is being built on board. The freight-ship Alma is also em barking military clothing, guns, &c., for the Crimea. The paddlewheel steamer Devastation, Capt. Mar shall, has undergone thorough repairs in Woolwich dockyard, and is now in a ♦ery forward state toward completion. The gun-boat Tickler, Lieut.-Commander Balfour, has left Woolwich for Northfleet. The Sandfly is again moored off the Arsenal, having received her stores and amtnnnition some days back, when she was about to proceed to Sheerness, and was run into by a coal brig, carrying away her stern ports and damaging her bul warks. She has been repaired, and is now ready to join the squadron. These gun-boats are all sapplied, prior to leaving Woolwich, with their requisite number of merines, varying from six to ten in each boat, under A non-commissioned officer of the corps. The surveying steamer Firefly, Capt. Otter, which ar rived at Woolwich about 10 days ago from the Baltic, has been docked for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of damage sustained by the explosion of the Russian iniernal machine. Several sheets of her copper are blistered on the spot struck, and come are ripped up. The concussion, as described by the officers of the Fire fly, was very severe. The damages were principally in ternal, and were repaired at the time by the carpenters of the fleet. They consisted chiefly of injuries done to the sail-room, which was knocked away, and the balk heads were sent across the orlop deck, which was like wise started up three inches in various places. The whole of the men's mess gear on the lower deck was broken in pieces. The Firefly also experienced some very severe damage in her lower timbers, and lost her forefoot on a reef of rocks, while carrying on her recon noitring operations off Abo, near the Gulfof Finland. The merchant FIAT) Elvira, of l'loiton, United States, Capt. Croesby, which left New York on 7th Sept., ran for shelter into Plymouth on Monday. She has had fair wind during the passage, but so strong that she was constantly shipping seas ; and on the 22d a gale from S.W. blew so furiously that the ship could not run be fore it any longer, and the master was compelled to heave her to, when she shipped several heavy seas—one which swept away the bulwarks, and carried off the secend mate and two seamen, who were unfortunately drowned. The same sea bruised the master and injured several of the men, two of whom are not expected to recover. The Elvira has lost her maintopgailantmast and sense sails. She is a new ship of 1,133 tons register, and has on board 65,000 bushels of wheat and 300 barrels of flour —one of the largest cargoesever shipped. The cargo is supposed to be uninjured. The following are the latest appointments made at the Admiralty : Lieut. J. L. Balfour, to the Victor ; Lieut. Lord E. H. Cecil (on the 29th ult.), to the Calcutta ; S. Denny, surgeon, to the Forth ; S. E. Poyntz, midshipman, to the Conqueror; A. F. Collier, midshipman, to the Forth. The following letter from tha War-office, bearing date the 21st of December, has been addressed to command ing officers and paymasters of regiments, and depots of cavalry and infantry, depot battalions, &c., at home : " Sir,—l am directed to inform you that the personal part of bounty admissible for men of the regular cavalry and infantry nho desert before final approval, but who on recovery to the service are pardoned and forwarded to their regiments or depots as recruits, will in future be as stated below, the same to include the portion pay able in the district.—l have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, " s, Hems. " For a cavalry pardoned deserter recruit, 51. ; for an infantry pardoned deserter recruit, 41." Lieut.-Colonel Lord Adolphus Vane Tempest left town on Friday last to rejoin his regiment, the Scots Fusilier Guardf., in the Crimea. Mr. Penrose Julyan, an officer in the Commissariat service, has recently introduced a new method of pre paring field forage, which, besides its advantages in other respects, is likely to prove of much importance in facilitating the mobilisatio❑ of the army. It e mixes up the hay, bruised oats, and bran, or whatever other de scriptions of food are considered desirable, in certain proportions, and then suljects the whole mass to so enormous a pressure as to get the ton weight into 50 cubic feet of space. It then becomes so solid that it can be cut like wood by a circalar saw into square blocks of a given size without any trouble. Each block contains half a day's ration for a horse, and net only is it an immense economy in freight and land transport, but, being at once fit for use, does away with all the waste and inconvenience atendant on the old system. According to that system the hay, corn, kc., was sent out separately, the former in bulk of 180 cubic feet for every ton, and it is impos sible to exaggerate the difficulties and loss arising from imperfect storage in wet weather, from breaking bulk, weighing, &c., by the Commissariat to supply the requi• sitions of regimental quartermasters, and again from the weighing and redistribution to the men. By Mr. Jul yan's plan all these inconveniences are avoided, and the forage is prepared in portions occupying the minimum of space, not subject to waste, and in such a shape that there is not the slightest trouble in serving it out on the field. The tonnage alone saved by this mode of packing far more than covers the expense attending its introduc tion. Acting Assistant-Surgeons Bonnyruan, Shoolbred, Wood, and Storey are under orders to quit Chatham, the two former for Winchester, the latter for Woolwich. Second-class Surgeon William Braybrooke leaves Fort Pitt f. , r Woolwich. Lieutenant Philip Harris, Royal Marines, Chatham, has recently visited the School of Musketry at Hythe, for the purpose of rendering any explanation or assist ance necessary for the practical tiial of the circular trig ger (Lieutenant Harris's own invention), now being adapted, under the direction of Colonel C. C. Hay, the Commandant, to 25 Enfield rifles. The interment of Mr. M'Donald, of the East India Compa n y' s Engineers, took place yesterday, at Gilling h tm. Independently of the officers of the Royal and East India Company's Engineers, with a large party of Sap pers and Miners, Colonel Eden had expressed a desire that the officers of the battalion and Royal Matinee should attend. The funeral cortege was accompanied by the Marine band, playing the "Dead March." Colonel Henry Sandha.m and Colonel Henry Eden, with their respective staffs, closed the long hoe of military. The coat of another of the officers has been picked up. METROPOLITAN BOARD OP WORKS. The first meeting of this board under the act for prac tical purposes took place yesterday afternoon, at Burling ton-house, Piccadilly ; Mr. Thwaites in the chair. The board did not meet until two o'clock. Mr. WILKINSON (honorary secretary) read the mi nutes of the last meeting relative to the appointment of the chairpaan, which were confirmed. The CHAIRMAN, in commencing the business of the day, alluded to a feeling prevalent that the meeting had not been called in accordance with the act, but from, in. quiries made of others he was of opinion the proper notice had been given. As the important works lately connected with the Commissioners of Sewers passed that day from that body to this board, he thought it right to make arrangements before the meeting this after noon, that no interregnum might take place likely to lead to dangerous consequences to the public, and he had continued the sluice keepers, &c., in office till the 15th. He made arrangements for taking possession of the late body's premises in Greek.street, which had that day been handed over to them, and also for securing the ♦aluable documents connected with the works, worth from 60,0001. to 80,0001., and which were now in the hands of persons answerable to that board for their safe custody. (Hear, hear.) The hon. gentle. man informed the board that it was his intention not to take part in the discussions of the board. (Hear.) He hoped that whatever might be the nature of the ques tions brought forward for discussion, the member of the board would abstain from the introduction of party warfare and politics. (Hear.) After calling on the board to support him in discharging the onerous duties of chair man, he called on The Hon. SECRETARY (Mr. Wilkinson) to read the documents relative to the directions and arrangements made by the chairman, and alluded to above, which were approved of by the board and confirmed. A long discussion took place on certain suggestions made by the committee appointed at the former meeting to assist the chairman in satisfactorily arranging the preliminaries necessary to be got over to proceed effi ciently with the machinery of the board. Ultimately a committee of three was appointed to suggest a common seal for the board, is order to prevent any injurious con sequences that might otherwise arise to the public. Mr. Bazalgette was directed to take charge of the main sewers and other works, with the assistance of the district engineers, and such temporary assistance as he might require, until otherwise directed ; and that a se cretary, treasurer, banker, engineer, and accountant be appointed. Mr. WILKINSON referred to a report that was prevalent, that he would not be keeping faith with the board were he to offer himself as a candidate far the secretaryship. He bad never sought office, nor did he intend to offer himself, but if the board were disposed to confer on him the office of secretary he would undertake to discharge the duties. A resolution was moved, seconded, and carried, and a committee of fifteen appointed to define the duties of the above officers, and fix the salaries, leaving the appoint ment of the subordinate officers to a future meeting. A letter was read from Sir B. Hall, announcing that the Board could not have the use of Burlington -house for their meetings after the 21st inst. A letter was read from Sir J. V. Shelley, announcing his resignation as a member of the board for St. James's. The letter was directed to be entered in the minutes, and that the vacancy be announced to the churchwardens of St. James's. In a reply to a question relative to the chairman's double election, The CHAIRMAN said that immediately on his being elected chairman he ceased to be the representative of Greenwich and Southwark, and notified the same to the ♦estry clerks of those districts, at the same time request ing them to proceed to the election of his successor. Ho believed the dicers of those districts had taken the necessary steps to fill up the vacancies. A conversation arose as to which was the most cen tral spot for the board to select to hold its future meet ings, and a committee was appointed to consider the question and report. Mr. COLLINSON said he understood the Corporation of London, on application being made to them to that effect, would grant the temporary use of the Council Chamber until the board had decided where their meet • ings should permanently be held. He moved a resolu tion asking for accommodation, which was seconded by Mr. NICHOLAT, and agreed to. The appointment of a superintendent architect was referred to the committee to report on the appointment of the superior officer of the board. After a short desultory conversation the meeting separated. HEALTH OF LONDON DURING- THE WEEK. (Prom the Report of the Registrar-General.) The total number of deaths registered in London in the week that ended last Saturday was 1,485. In the 10 corresponding weeks of the years 1345-54 the average number was 1,190, which, if raised in a certain propor tion for comparison with last week's deaths which oc curred in an increased population, becomes 1,309. The result obtained is an excess in the rate of mortality now prevailing, as compared with the average rate for the last week of the year. Before the cold weather, which was recently experi_ enced, set in, the weekly deaths were about 1,100 ; I.st week the deaths registered exceeded that number by nearly 400. This increase is to be referred, in part, to the operation of natural causes in producing or aggra vating diseases, and thereby increasing the rate of mor tality, and partly to a cause which is pericelical and in cidental to the registration. At the end of the quarter there is an influx into the register books of coroner's cases, which, if they had been registered when they oc curred, would have been spread more equally over the last and previous weeks. Both bronchitis and pneumonia exhibit an inerea , e in the cases is which they were fatal over those of previous weeks. The former disease caused 119, 119, 161 deaths in 3 preceding weeks ; in the present return the number has risen to 204. Pneumonia has increased in the last 2 weeks from 80 to 107. llooping-cbugh predominates in the zymotic class, and was fatal in 66 cases, scarlatina in 50, typhus in 50, measles in 37, small-pox in 17. Measles pravail in St. Clement Danes and part of Marylebone. Scarlatina and typhus appear to be ex ceedingly rife in the anb•district of St. Peter, Walworth, where 8 deaths occurred from the former or the latter form of epidemic disease. Mr. Turner, the registrar, reports that of the 8 cases, 4 occurred in one family in Park-place, East-street. Three children were buried on one day. It appears that the house was in an unwhole some condition, and that remedial measures, at last found to be necessary, were delayed in consequence of the sick ness that attacked the family. Last week the births of 805 boys and 753 girls, in all 1,563 children, were registered in London. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1845-54, the average number was 1,332. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was 29.447 in. The mean temperature, which in the previous week was 28.2 deg., was last week 44.8 deg., which is 7.2 deg, above the average of the same week in 33 years (as determined lay Mr. Glasher). The highest temperature occurred on Friday, and was 53.4 deg. The lowest was 24 deg. on Sunday (the 23d). The mean teraperatnre was above the average o❑ every day of the week, and on Friday this excess was 10.7 deg. The mean dew-point tempe rature was 41.7 deg., and the difference between this and the mean air temperature was 3 deg. The wind ble w from the south-west. The amount of rain was 0.83 'in., which fell almost entirely on the first four days. The amount of horizontal movement of the air on Wednes day was 325 miles. MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, DEC. 29 Zymotic Diseases Diseases of Uncertain Seat Tubercular Diseases Diseases of the Brain, Nerves and Senses Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 64 Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of Respiration Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c. Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles Diseases of the Skin, &c. Malformations Premature Birth and Debility Atrophy Old Age 5udden........................................................ Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 123 Causes not specified 33 DEATHS fllOll ALL CAUSES Population Deaths in Corte- Deaths Enumerated. sponding week in the 18.51. of 1854. Wec k . West Districts North Districts 490,396 ...... 281 ...... 309 Central Districts 393,256 ..... 211 East Districts 485,522 ...... 367 South Districts 1,508 1,485 743 742 Totals Males Females. BIRTHS IN THE WEEK. Males Females.. TOW • • • 1,563 THE SENSE OF SIGHT IN BIRDS. ( From Putman's American Magazine. ) Audubon has written an amusing book, I had almost said of fables, called Ornithological Biography. By a number of cruel experiments, he has proved to his own entire satisfaction, and that of many other., that vul tures are led to their food by the sense of sight alone ; the sense of smell, which they were supposed to possess in an exquisite degree, affording them not the slightest assistance. Hie experiments prove quite too much for his purpose, for they equally deprive the poor bird in question of both sight and smell. It is certain that this bird possesses both senses in great perfection, and equally certain that neither nor both are the sole means it' employs for obtaining its food. Though the senses in animals are means of obtaining them food, they are not the sole means, as we very well know. It is a most curious question, and well worth more attention than it has ever yet received. For want of a better explanation, we usually say, there is an instinct that enables animals to find their food. Many go from great distances directly to it. Pigeons find out newly sown fields immediately, and will frequently go several miles to a field the very first nsorning after it is sown. Wild ducks that feed at night aro equally quick in find ing their food ; and in this case I would be glad to know what sense they employ. The red.deer invariably knows when the shepherd's patch of grain is fit for his food, and will frequently come down in such number, as to eat up the entire crop in a single night. In fact all birds, whatever their food may be, have an instinctive power of discovering it immediately, and that from such dis tance!' as no acuteness of either sight or smell will ac count for. Without allowing this, you cannot explain facts too numerous, and too well authenticated, to be doubted. It is precisely the same faculty, whatever it may be, that enables the carrier pigeon to find it, way home, take it what distance, and any way covered lip, you will. Toss it np in the air, and, after circling for a few moments, it adopts its line of flight, without hesita tion and without mistake. Audubon himself furniihes an instance of the exercise of thi s f acu lt y, i n hi s descrip tion of the razorbill,The instinct or sagacity which enables the razorbills, after being scattered in all direc tioue, in quest of food, during the long night, often at great distances from each other, to congregate towards morning, previously to their alighting on a spot to rest, has appeared to me truly wonderful ; and I have been tempted to believe that their place of rendezvous had been agreed upon the evening before." In disputing about the comparative value of the senses of sight and smell in birdie, authors notice a much more curious fact—the great power birds possess of altering the focal length of their eyes. To see equally well an object at a distance of many miles, and a minute seed or insect an inch from the bill, may well amaze us. Ob serve the first person of your acquaintance you meet who happens to wear spectacles. If he looks at an ob ject near him, he looks through his glasses ; if at a more distant one, over them. Go to a practical optician and desire him to construct an instrument that will enable you to do what birds are constantly doing in this, and ho will, most likely, tell you the thing is impossibile. Man probably surpasses birds in extent of vision, as much as birds surpass man in sharpness. floss, in his voyage to Baffin's Bay, proved that a man, under favour able circumstances, could see over the surface of the sea 150 miles. It is not probable that any animal can equal this for extent. In sharpness of sight, on the other hand, birds greatly excel us. The eagle soaring at such a height that he seems a mere speck, sees the grouse walking in the heather, which it so closely resembles in colour as readily to escape the sportsman's eye. Schmidt threw to a considerable distance from a thrush a number of beetles, of a pale gray colour, which the unassisted human eye failed to detect, yet the bird observed them immediately. Many birds readily perceive insects on branches where the sharpest-sighted person can detect nothing. The eyes of birds are remarkable for their great com parative size, the great convexity of the cornea, and for having the sclerotic coat formed anteriorly to a circle of I bony plates. The optic nerves are very large, and unite so intimately as to appear perfectly incorporated. The iris is exceedingly contractile—as all may have observed who bye watched a bi r d dyi ng . Bi r d s d o not expire with e a y se a w re ith ex t p h i e rin m g a , r y i ou and ma t y he re l a o d w i e ly r contracting the pupil. The mu sc l es , as i n man, are in ae o yn b ie s m e s r a° v lr e s: t na h 'n e ad g s r w e ig a h t tein' p e o th w e er they posses s o f dilating and number-4 straight and 2 oblique. In many birds the eye ball possesses very little mobility, and in some of the owls it is so closely fitted into the orbit as to be immovable. How the eye adapts itself to near and distant objects is one of the most abstruse questions in physiology. Three explanations have been offered. 1. By bringing forward the crystalline lens nearer to the cornea, with out altering the form of the whole eye or the crystalline itself. 2. By changing the figure of the globe of the eye, so as to increase the distance between the cornea, and retina, as you pull out the joints of a common spy-glass ; and 3, without altering the general form of the eye by increasing the sphericity of the crystalline, and thus in creasing its refractive power. The first was the opinion of Haller and the earlier physiologists. The second was adopted by Blumenbach and many able men. The third was the opinion of Lewenhoek, Descartes, and Dr. Young, and is, perhaps, the true explanation. Sir Lye rand Home and Mr. Itamsden performed many experi ments to elucidate the question, but they proved nothing THE PARISIAN FASHIONS AND FABRICS. Paris is very brilliant just now, revelling not only in the joyous blaze of the gas of its streets, but still inure ,n the marvels of industry, fashion, and art with which is shops are replete for the attraction of customers. Now is the harvest time : New Year's Day is near, and no one dares show himself without both hands and pocket full of gifts and suprises. Accordingly, see how all are crowding to our fashionable establishments. At the Magasins du Louvre they know not whom toanswer fist; the el6gantes aro inquiring for velvets, for brocatelles, far those magnificent stuffs, in a word, that recall the days of our grandmothers. Humbler visitors aro in quest of plain silks and other modest articles ; some want carpets, others curtains, others again lace, and all that they desire is at once presented to them as if by enchant ment. A visit to the Magasins du Louvre is, in truth, an Arabian tale in action ! So at Tahan's where there is a splendid assortment of furniture of all sizes and prices, but all intended for positive use, and all executed with artis tic iikill,sueh a s b ureau x,prie-lieus, tea-caddies, and flower baskets that seem to have come from the Versailles of far mer days ; also toilette and band mirrors, boxes for all sorts 4,1 contents, and worthy of enclosing jewels, if the tradi tional sugar-plums and chocolates be not preferred. If you wish rather to make presents of elegant toilettes, at once rich and simple, but always distingries, you must call upon Mme. Fadvet, rue de 11/4r:tars, No. 4, for it is she who supplies all the ladies who hold any rank what. over in the world of diplomacy, or art, or fashion, Young ladies find there their modest trousseaux, and brides their beautiful corbelles, and no one in Paris knows as well as Madame Fauvet how to choose what is best adapted to the style of each and the taste of all. A mother may give to her daughter, a husband to his wif a sister to a sister, one of those elegant corsets in white watered silk for which Mme. Clemencon, rue du Pert- Mahon, No. 8, is unrivalled, and this present, SO useful, is also very agreeable, as with it one is always sure of being well-dressed. If you wish a rich necklace, you must go to Kramer, the jeweller par excellence of all the dldgantes. The necklace is again worn, and he will furnish you with those pretty ornaments which repose the eye fatigued with the glitter of diamonds. Susse and Gueslais are also visited by the fashionables : the first, for all those charming nothings so appropriate as gifts, and also for albums, pastels, screens, books of all sorts, stat i one ry at all prices, and other artistic obj ec t s f or which be is re nowned, and Guerlain for essences as fragrant as flowers, perfume boxes, smelling bottles, tortoiseshell combs, sachets for gloves and handkerchiefs, scented pates for the band—in a word, for the useful and agreeable coin bined in the same object. The establishment of Lemon nier, at the corner of the Passage de I'Opera and the Bou levards, offers gifts of affection, for theirhair is set with a skill that is marvellous, whilst the rings, bracelets, neck laces, pictures, are all exquisite. Another useful present is a box of Col ogne water from the house of J. M. Farina, rue St. Honore, 333, the great s uperiority of which i s abundantly proved by the fact of its baying been brevete by the Courts of France and England, and almost every other co un t ry of Europe . Or, if you prefer a bonn e t f or the street, or a bead-dress for balls or concerts, go to Mme. Soifer, 45, rue. St. Augustin, for nothing can he more distingnde and elegant than her master-pieees of taste, her feathers, her flowers, and lace. But if you s hould visit Mme. Tilm an , wear flowers, yonwho seems to have fixed the abode of spring in Paris, so fresh, co quettish, fragrant , and natural a re th e wreaths and bouquets which come from her hands. But, if you wish to go from gay t o grave, yo u must call upon Graux- Marly, to a dmire and purchase br onzes wh i ch are worthy of ancient days. Then, as bad weather will return, enter the shop of Cazal, where you will find such light, elf)• gan t, coevenient umbrellas that the difficulty of selec tion will keep you for awhile in suspense before resuming your way home, which you will at length reach with your mind and imagination enriched with what you have seen in your promenade. The funeral of Mr. J. Conder will take place on Thursday. SOIREE TO MESSRS. GIBSON AND BRIGHT.—TI e usual annual soiree to the members for Manchester is to be held in the Corn E;change in that city, on the eve of the meeting of Parliament. • THE CRYSTAL PALACE AND THE PARIS EXHIBITORS. The following circular has been issued to the British exhibitors at the late Paris Exposition : " The Crystal Palace, Sydenham, Dec. 2ti. ' "I have the honour to inform you that the directors, being desirous of reproducing at the Crystal Palace the contributions in arts, manufactures, and materials, from the United Kingdom to the Paris Universal Exhibition, have resolved to grant space for that purpose, free of rent for one year. It is proposed to open this Special Exhibition on the lst of May next. A form of appli cation for space is annexed, which you will be good enough to fill up, and return to Mr. John C. Deane, Crystal Palace, Sydenham, on or before the Ist of Feb ruary next, in order that he may be enabled to take the necessary steps for the arrangement and disposition of the goods and cases. Free admission, within certain limits, will be given to exhibitors and assistants, and every facility will be afforded for obtaining orders from the samples exhibited, but no direct sales by deli ♦ery will be permitted.—l am, yours obediently, " G. GROVE, Secretary. "N.B.—The directors reserve to themselves the right of selection, in respect of the goods for which space may be applied for under this circular." At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, the 28th day of December, 1855, by the Lords of hor Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council. The Lords of the Council, having taken into considera tion their Lordships' Order of the 20th day of September, 1855, whereby the officers of her Majesty's Customs were ordered to preveat the exportation of chlorate of potass to any place, in Europe, north of Dunkirk, or in the Me diterranean Sea, east of Malta, are hereby pleased to re scind the same. and their lordships are likewise pleased hereby to rescind so much of their lordships' order of the let Nov., 1855, as prohibited the export of chlorate of potass to all foreign countries. Whereof the Lords Commissioners of hor Majesty's Treasury, and the Commissioners of Customs, and all other persons whom it may concern, are to take notice and govern themselves accordingly. Country Markets. IPSWICH-DEC. 26. C. FOREIGN OFFICE, DE C. C. 31.GREVILLE. The Queen has been graciously pleased. to appoint the Honourable Peter Campbell Scarlott, C. 8., now Secretary to her Majesty's Legation at Florence, to bo her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary Plenipotentiary to the Emperor of Brazil. REDUCTION OF THE NATIONAL DEBT. The Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury having certified to the Commissioners for the reduction of the National Debt that there was no surplus of actual revenue over the actual expenditure of the United King dom of Great Britain and Ireland, for the year ending the 30th of September, 1855 : The Commissioners for the reduction of •the National Debt hereby give notice that no sum will be applied by them on account of the sinking fund, under the provisions of the Act 10 Gen. IV., cap. 27, between the let of January, 1856, and the 31st day of March, 1856. A. Y. SFEARMAN, Comptroller-General. National Debt Office, Dec. 31, 1855. I s Wheat, English, red 74 to 76 Ditto white 7B to 84 Dantzic and Konigs berg Pomeranianand Hain - burgh Danish, Holstein, and COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORD-LIEUTENANTS. Ross, Caithness, Sutherland, and Cromarty Regiment of Rifle Militia—Ensign James Stewart to be Lieutenant, vice Patrick Mac Lean, promoted. Light Infantry Battalion of the Royal Sussex Militia— Ensign Percy Kirk to be Lieut enan t , v i ce Petts, resigned. Royal Glamorgan Light Infantry Militia—Ensign henry Burrowes to be Lieutenant, vice Adams, resigned. Gth Regiment of Royal Lancashire Militia—Thomas Acres Ogle, late Ensign in the 7th Regiment of Royal Lancashire Militia, to be Ensign. Queen's Regiment of Edinburgh County Militia. —Ed win Augustus Windsor, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Sin clair, promoted. 2d Regiment of the Royal Surrey Militia.—Lieutenant William James Sharp to bo Captain, vice Chadwick, re signed. [The following appointment is substituted for that which appeared in the Gazette of Fri lay, Dec. 21] : lit Rifle Regiment Royal Cornwall Rangers.—Ensign George Grenville Fortescue to be Lieutenant. Friesland 74 to 78 1 Russian and Odessa 70 t o 72 1 Oats, English Ditto Danish Ditto Friesland Ditto Russian 2B to 30 Barley, malting Ditto grinding 36 to 38 Beans Ditto foreign Peas, white and yel 5O to 54 Amsterdam Ditto, three months .. Rotterdam •• •• •• .• •..• Antwerp .... .• ........ Brussels .... •......... Hamburgh •• •• •• •• •• • • Altona .. •• •• •• •. •• •• •• BANKRUPTCY ANNULLED. John Parker Marsh, wool broker and banker, Bishops gate-street, City. BANKRUPTS. William Elsam, ironstone master, Heyford and Rug brook, Northamptonshire, to surrender Jan. 11, at one, and Fob. 15, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Nicholson, official assignee, Basingliall-street ; Lawraneo, Plows, and Boyer, Old Jewry Chambers. George Wagner, auctioneer, Bernard-street, Russell square, Jan. 8, at half-past one, and Feb. 12, at half past twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Stansfeld, official assignee; Tucker, Clemotit'a-lane, City. James Harrison, commission agent, City, Jan. 9, at two, and Feb. 12, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Park inson, official assignee, Argyll -street ; Parrott, Colville, and May, Macclesfield. Leonard Laidman, law stationer, Chancery-lane, Jan. 10, at half-past twelve, and Feb. 14, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman street-buildings; Philpot and Greenhill, Gracechurch. street. Joseph Nokes, glass cutter, Lower Hospital-street, Bir mingham, Jan. 14, and 6th Feb. at half-past ten, at the Birmingham District Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham; Smith, Birmingham; East, Birmingham. William Soager White, chemist, Handsworth, Stafford shire, Jan. 14 and Feb. 6, at half-past ten, at the Birming ham District Court. Christie, official assignee, Birming ham ; Robinson, Birmingham. Rowland Hill Blacker, mantle manufacturer, Ludgate street, City, Jan. 11 at eleven, and Feb. 8 at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman street-buildings ; Manion and Prichard, Newgate-streot. William Wiggins, paper manufacturer, Hawley Mills, near Dartford, Kent, and 5 and 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, City, Jan. 11, at two, and Feb. 15, at ono, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall street ; Spicer, Staple-inn, Holborn. Isaac, Firth, victualler, Manchester, Jan. 11 and Feb. 1, at twelve, at the Man c h es t er Di str i ct Court. Hama man, official assignee, Manchester; Potter and Wood, Manchester. Baxter Barker, innkeeper, York, Jan. 17, and Feb. 15, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Young, official assignee, Leeds; Bond and Barwick, Leeds. George Taylor, silk manufacturer, Derby, Jan. 15, and Feb. 12, at half-past ten, at the Birmingham District Court. Harris, official assignee, Nottingham ; Crowder and Maynard, London; Dunnicliff, Derby; Motteram and Knight, Birmingham. Paris . . Ditto, three months .. 25 70 Marseilles ............. 25 7234 Itourieaux . • • • •• • • . • •• ankfort-on NI sine 119% Vienna ........ .. • • .... 11 10 Trieste—. 11 12 Petersburg .......... 3t Madrid ......., 49!;, Z - !adiz .......... ..... 494 Random% .......... SEABORNE MAILS. DIVIDENDS DECLARED. R. 0. Sargent, Hastings, cordwainer, first and final di. vidend of 3d. in the pound, payable at 80, High-street, Hastings, on and after Jan. 7. J. Cochrane, Hastings, shoemaker, first and final divi dend of Bd. in the pound, payable at 80, High-street, Hastings on and after Ja n . 7. E. Smith, Hastings, butcher, first and final dividend of lid. in the pound, payable at 80, High-street, Hastings, on and after Jan. 7. L. C. Besley, Lavia, Plxilionth, superannuated clerk, se cond dividend of 6s. in the pound, payable at St. George's-hall, East Sto;lhouse, on any day. DIVIDENDS TO BE DECLARED. It. Turner, Worthing, Sussex, draper ; J. Perry, Har low, Essex, grocer, Jan. 22---T. Routledge and J. Rout ledge, Lett's Wharf, Commercial-road, Lambeth, saw mill proprietors; J. C. Lucas and T. Lucas, 113, Aldersgate street, City, wholesale druggists (and also on the separate estates of J. C. Lucas and T. Lucas; H. NY ylde, New Ca vendish-street, Portland-place, innsicseller ; J. Balding, King's Arms-place, Old Kent-road, hat manufacturer, Jan. 23—C. W. Taylor, Epping, Essex, draper, Jan. 26—H. Collier, jun., Painswick, Gloucestershire, blanket manu facturer, Jan. 31—J. L. Ward, Fullege, Lancashire, cot ton spinner; B. Eagland and W. Crampton, Bedford, Lancashire, cotton manufacturer, Jan. 22. CERTIFICATES TO BE GRANTED. R. Butler, late of '2O, Pickering-terrace, Bayswater, ironmonger—E. Redwood, jun., Windmill-street, Lam beth, china and glass d ea l er , J an . 22 —J. Grogan, 10, Stock bridge-terrace, Pimlico, musical instrument dealer, Jan. 24—T. E. King, Guildford, Surrey, bookseller, Jan. 22 H. Wylde, New Cavendish-street, Portland-place, music seller ; H. Williams, son., and J. Williams, West Smith field, City, tailors, Jan. 23—C. Avery, Fenchurch-street, City, colonial broker, Jan. 25—J. C. Sanford, Paternoster row, City, stationer, Jan. 23 —J. Brown, Weymouth, Dorsetehire, leather seller, Jan. 24—T. Kingdon, Nether axe, Devonshire, cyder merchant, Jan. 24—R. Burns, Liverpool, millwright, Jan. 23. SHARE, MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, JAN. 1. INSOLVENT PETITIONERS. j T. G o e s l e d p a h rt D , Liverpool,ngt o of Ev e bu tc he r r to n, L —j. P:r n k7 hsire, b Liverpool, uc w he at r e — r. proof manufacturer—N. Hedge, Liverpool, jeweller—P. Gorse, Toxtoth-park, Lancashire. poulterer--J. Myers, Liverpool, not in any business—J. Beaumont, Scarborough, grocer—T. Morgan, Brecknock, out of business Anne Haines, Brecknock, cabinetmaker—E. Beddoo, Merthyr Tydfil, Glarnorgaushire, grocer—R. Woosn am , N ewtown, Montgomeryshire, out of business—E. Timewell, Devon an. port, out of business—A. Arblaster, Bridgend, Glamor shire, out of business — R. Thomas, Swansea, beerhouse keeper—M. Warren, Derby, journeyman dyer —G. Bayliss, Southport, Worcestershire, journeyman tanner —L. T. Bonnet, Oldswinford, Worcestershire, inland revenue offi cer—A. Robinson, Marazion, Cornwall, dealer in mine shares—S. James, Derby, housekeep er —F. Simpkin, Lit church, Derbyshire, telegraph inspector—E. Jeffs, Glou cester, hairdresser--T. Nalton, Bradford, Yorkshire, tailor —T. W. Goldsworthy, Lympstoue, Devonshire, innkeeper —A. Mills, Swind on , Wil tshire, out o f b us i ness —W. Samuel, AhertillerY, M onmou th s hi re , m oulder—T. Beach, Tredegar, M onmoathshire, boot maker —D av id P owe ll , Schfoes, Monmouthshire, labourer. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. T. England an d W. E ng l a nd, George-yard, Lombard street, City, merchants—C. Harris and C. B. Sewell, 13, Fe nchurch-street, City, surgeons—T. Kirkwood and J. P. M. Myers, Pembrokeshire, colliery workers—H. M. Price, P. Faveno, and G. B. Gwyn, Skinner's-place, Sise-lane, City, and Pitt-street, Sydney, merchants—W. Hopkinson, sen., T. Burrowes, an d W. Hopkinson, jun., P au l' s - w h arf, Upper Thaises-street, and Old and New Corn Exchange, Mark-lane, City, corn merchants—W. P. Holland, G. Hutchinson, and SuusranninsmahncHuirtocahminosnogne,r7B2LW. Newington causeway, Surrey. f and G. Hobdey, Cosely, Staffordshire, rnaltsters—Thomas Becher and N. Bickhonee, Ipswich, Suffolk, stove manu facturers—E. J. Gore and F. R. Gore, Old Jewry -cham bers, merchants—T. Marwood and J. Marwood, Whitby, Yorkshire, ship brokers—H. Hides, Hungerford-street, Strand, and J. Cook, Queen-street, Cheapside, manufac turers of sarsaparilla cocoa—S. Herington and A. Downer, boarding and day school mistresses - C. G. Sheffield and J. Grimes, Leadenhall-street, and St. George's-street East, printers—W. C. Finch and R. S. Finch, Fisherton Anger, Wiltshire, establishment for insane persons James Blacket and B. A. Totnkins, of 85, High-street, South wark, woollen drapers---J. Cheetham, jun., and G. Cheat ham, of Derby, silk web manufacturers—J. Johnson and Mary Robinson, of Liverpool, lime burners—E. Price and T. Boyle, of 5, Pilgrim-street, Ludgate-hill, City, glass silverers—H. Schutt and W. D. Hertz, of Bradford, yarn merchants —J. Lined and G. Jenks, of Shrewsbury, iron mongers —G. Tongs, J. Hodgkinson, G. F. Hodgkinson, J. M. Stead, and S. B. Hodgkinson, wholesale druggists (so far as regards J. Hodgkinson)--A. Pellatt and F. Pellatt, of Holland-street, Blackfriars, and Baker-street, Portman square, glass manufacturers—A. J. E. Stone and John Howells, of Bristol, linen drapers—J. T. Shewell, Thos. Whitehead, and J. Gordon, of Aberdeen, nail manufactu rers —C. Steeps and E. Pictet, of Liverpool, merchants— Tinker and N. Longehaw, jun. of Manchester, commission agents --Ann Alexander, G. AT. Alexander, W. D. Alexander, and J.Brown, of 40, Lombard -street, money dealers (so far as regards J. Brown)—E. Graham, W.East wood, W. Hutchinson, and J. Wallis, late of Halcomo Brook, Lancashire, cotton spinners (so far as regards E. Graham)—J. A. Jones and J. T. Jones, of Leadenhall street, City, licensed victuallers—J.Miller and A.Strachan, of 31, St. Mary Axe, City, tea dealers—E. Pritchard, W. Pritchard, and J. Shelton, of Warwick-lane, Newgate street, City, builders—W. Ward and C. Bryant, of 35, Red Lion-street, Holborn, builders—C: Braun° and S. Scbulman, of Manchester, commission agents—D. Pollitt and S. Dewey, of Manchester, engravers—R. J. Child and W. R. Kelley, of Old Jewry.chambers, City, attorneys— J. Somerville and A. Harper, of 4, St. Benet's-place, Gracechurch-street, City, ship agents —W. Taylor, of Not tingham, and Joh n F ranc i s , of Birmingham, statio ners —Abraham James and Abraham Robert James, of 16, Grenada-terrace, Commercial-road-East, ironmongers— Henry Parsons, and Henry Parsons, jun., of 11a, Rope maker's-street City, packing-case manufacturers—Henri St. John and John Allen Ransom, of 431, Oxford-street, Middlesex, and Dublin-street, Carlow, Ireland, American photographists—dames Bizzey and Thomas Denim), of Stroud, Gloucestershire, linen drapers —J. Nixon and G. Gibson. N ewca stle-upon-Tyne ' wine merchants - Robert Hague, C. L. Hensman, and J. Hague, jun., of South ampton, millers (so far as regards C. L. Hewn:l9,ll)—S. Lock.or, A. Thompson, and R. L. Holland, 4, Great Win chester -street, City, merchants—Hans D. C. Satow and J. H. C. Satow, Idle-lade, City, merchante—W. H. Rowe From the London Gazette of Last Night. and J. K. Tuke, Brighton, surgeons—C. Thall Knowles, 29, Tuileri es - s t ree t , St . L eonar d' s , Shy" boot and shoe manufacturers. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. Copland and Brickmann, ship brokers, Dundee. Poter:Stobo, ironmonger, Glasgow. Maxwell Miller, coppersmith, Glasgow. The wheat supply was by no means a large... L on: t o languid, at a reduction of f u ll y i s per quarter. U:°'+ of barley also was under an average, and sales o °_ be affected at a similar reduction. Beans and r , 2s cheaper. Mt 41:7ARTRR. nol Wheat, red (old) 76s to 78a Barley, grinding ... ' Ditto (new) Ditto, white B 2s t o 84 6 P eas Ditto (old) Barley, maltin g „, 39s to 40EFlour, per sack ... A:FERMIM FOR TOR Wss ENDING DAC. 29, 1851 Oat Wheat s ~ —8 Peas Barley 111 381 1 4 , Bears HULL—JAN. 1. A moderate supply of wheat from the farml l o and which met a dull sale at is to 2s decline. I lower, and in slow dem an d. B eans unaltere d." inactive, and cakes slow s a l e . Th e mar k et a lt o r a very holiday appearance. Peas, grey and black: Linseed, Black Sea... Ditto Petersburgh ••,_% Ditto Riga and Ar d angel . • Ditto Konigsberg andl Memel ............... 'Lins.c., Hull 13110, 1 Ditto fi ne for. 1210 s, Ditto inf. for. 0/ Ose Rapeseed 0010 0 Rape cakes 150 s Od' , Tares, English .....• Ditto foreign ..... Guano OOl Os Di, Bones Rye Meal ........... COURSE OF EXCHANGE.—YEsTBADi f I 1 16% Gibraltar •• •• • „ 11 19 , 4 Legh o r n • 11 19% Genoa ••• •• 25 474 Milan ......•• •••• 25 474 13 9% Naples Palermo ...... •'' Messina ...,•.•...• Lisbon ....... '„ Oporto Rio Janeiro ..... .••"„ Buenos Ayres.. .• •• Now York,6o days' Siv Philadelphia •• •• • • 1 0 PRICES OF iIILLICIft, Foreign Gold in Mull Portugal Gold Coin •• Mexican Dollars .• New Dollars ...••• Silver in bars •••• •• (II signifies that the mails aro sent from the Gener/a tho night—and M by the morning—despateh.) - Day when made in F rom w bsit COUNTRIES. in General Post- P ort °Glee, London.. Dispatched. Amerlea(byßrit.pack)N Eliery Friday ••• • • Liverpool ••• Americr. (by United Ste. packet) ..........N •• •• • • Liverpool ••• ' America (by U. States packet) ........N Jan. 2. • •-• Routharnptof' Australia (via South ampton) .......... MI —•••— •• • • SouthamPOF Ditto (via Marseilles) hit Ditto (via Cape of Good ! Rope) .............N1 Africa (West Coast) ..N,?,3d of the Ey onth ..IPlymouth •• t‘ .• Alexandria........ . Nl 4 , • 9, 24, & 30 of m.Daver .... •• . Alexandria..........M 4th & 20th of mon.'Southamptoe Bahamas ...........111 17 th ofthe inenti , 'Southampter Belgium ...........NrpanY •••••••• • • • • D0ver......; i 9 Brazil .... .......... hi ,9th of the m , inth..South amP i° j BuonosAyres........M th of the mouth.., isouthamt•if n Cape of Good Hope —NI 'Various port , 1 Cape of Good Hope ..N1 Cape de Verds ......N! 9th of 03 month iSo u th am pton J Ceylon (see India) 1 Ceylon ..............N , • 1 Channel 151e5.... ~..N Mon ~Wed.,&Fril. Southampton Chi11................M i 2 d i l .l7th of month Southamptoi j China ... .. Once a month.... Constantinople ......N i 8 .1 3 • 19 • 23 •&28 of n+ Dover ...• •• Constantinople „,.., „„ .. :4th & 20th of mon. Southampton 1 Cont. of Europe M & N ! Twice daily ...... Dover .....• I Twice daily...—. Dover .....• * E Fr g an YP c t e (a . c . e .!. n . 4 ! E .ll & N I Gibraltar .......„,m 4.7.17,20, 27 .fm Southampton Greece (see India) Greytown .......... M 2nd it 17th of mon., tiouthamptos Hamburgh ..........N Tuesday & Friday L on d on ..... a warmat , ..........Iw2nd of the month Southampton ;ii,, Holland .............M 11)811 7.• ••• • .. Dover ......• i: i Honduras ........ hi'l7td t !the month.lS out h amp t o n India (viaSouthamnt.)M. ~. 4th t 20th of mon.lPly mou th •• India (via Marseilles)M. 9 th& 2 &th of month Dover .... ••, lonian Isles (set India)i 7, 17 , & 27 of mon IDover...• •• Ireland ........M & NlTwice daily ••• • •. Rots head •• I' u 5 h m .............. ht 1 7, 9, 17. & 2 7 of ni. Southampton i' kladeira ............ml9th of the tnonthlSouthamptor nadeira ........... N 23d of month • . lLtverpool •••1 Malta (see India) 1 i gait& ...... „ „ ....N a, is, &25 of mon. Dover ...• • .1J Mauritius (see India) 1 Mauritius .......... N l l4th of the month I Mexico ............m 2nd of th e month.,,goathamptot ei Naples ...... .. ......N Mhlsl.l32bthof mon.Dover ....•• N ew G rana d a ...... NI 21 & 17th of month,Southamptoi , flew zeva n d.......... D 7 private si b ..iVarilus port' ' ' Papal States .........N 'sthliSth2sthonnon.iDover ......; 1 ............ ...... ...... . 7: !el , , NI n. 41 rs,i h iir l p 7 r : 2 1 : 12 , tt 7 the t o h st o h f rni m p 0 0 . I n , ... i Various t , • 0 ..... ) , t i t t t b h a tt rn t n pp p ot t r t, o , n n s . al P P e e r n u inst . i . la Dover ...• •• Dover .... I I Sicily Por tN' :! ;1 :- . .• : .• .• : : :: : : 7 1 ', T , i 55 t t i h l j i ii M t h h 2 2 Zl h u " , f i m m C) ) i n t ' .l Tuscany y elt „ .......m 12d,t 17th oir nonti) l AouthamptoV , • Van Diemen's Land 00.! Australia) ...... ..1 I wo,t hulks .... ~1 1 ,, h ; 7th 0, month 'Southampton II i • • Plymouth •• ,Dover •• ••_.; 'Southampto n Dover •• gouthemplor'll !SouthamOfn io port ,1 ISouthamptor igouthAniptoni l ISouthamptol ll' over . • • • • S3Uthamptoll to i Dover , ftiouth.onptos London ....• Southampton ; 0 Dover •• ! 1, ,g 18outhampton," 1 !Plymouth •• IDover .... • • :Dover •••• • • Rol: head • • We Southampton Ji 18outhamptOr !Liverpool When any of these dat es f a ll on a Sunday, the mails will llr 'patched on the following day, with the exception of the Sonthampton), end the M a lt a . b oth of which will he dearle . preceding day. 1,0 / STOCK EXCIIANGE.— m Tho tong of th e mar k e t • - 4 0 very quiet t o -d ay, an d prices are &shade lower than Jo day. Little or no b us i ness d o i ng, at the following Prp —Caledonian, 27 74—South Eastern, 17i 3s. 9d." Eastern, B erw i c k , 163— Lancashire and Yorkihilp (ii Manchester, Sheffield, an d Li nco l n , 23i-31,100 631 g —Gr ea t W es t ern of Canada, 254—Dutch Pr d. k 3s. 9d. DUBLIN, DEO. 31. , lob STOOK EXOHANGE.—Thr e o per C en t . C onsols .0 B Si 4—Ditto for Account, Jan. 8, 884—New Three poi Stock, 884 A 88—Ditto, for Account, Bth Jan. Great South ern an d W es t ern , 514 — Ditto , 6 pet Prof., 7--National Bank (221. les. paid), 324 - Ir Bank, —Dublin and Wicklow, —W a t e rfl o Limerick, 22y—Mining Co. of Ireland, 13i—Iris h Eastern, 51. A letter received from Callao gives a beart•re n f io ms account hiifrhaabl of e recentlyt h e beings, Chinese aa nr arrived labour y e itd Fl port f , slave ou trade. nwdi t with a that cargoA 2 n o l 0 0 0 ( t i o bt 4 had either died or committed suicide. Al i9d FIRE AT THE P RINCE ' S TAVERN, SOHO, AN$ J. v "; If i ESCAPE or S EVEN PERSONS.—ShortIy after six ocol yesterday morning a destructive fire broke out 01 : premises of Mr. Whall, Prince's Tavern, Prince's'°' . 1 Soho. On the inmates endeavouring to e ffect ti ol escape they found that all egress by the usual inean g i cut off. The fire-escape was sent for, and the 00 0dtl y ill slice( tied in saving the lives of Mrs. and Mr. J. W o ol! and three children (aged twelve, nine, and seven y ad and and the tw o servan t s . Th e eng i nes got to work 0P or the direction of Mr. Stapl e t on , w h en , a f ter great is le tions, the fi r e was at last extinguish e d, b ut not untlioi bar parlour and bar were burnt out, and the first." second floors, with the rest of the house, very oonol i o, ably damaged by fire and water. The cause' is ankn i ° o o Contents insured in the R o y a l E xc h ange, the b u il° in the Globe. BIRTHS. OP A SON. On the 31st ult., at Lyneembe Villa, Battersea the wife of William Evill, Esq., inn. On the 29th ult., at 28, Mecklenburg-square, the w"" Frederick Stallard, Esq., barrister-at.law. o On the 29th ult., at 15, Lonsdale-square, the vvi , . James Walker, Esq. 01 A DAUGHTER. On the 31st ult., at Wrotham Park, the Viscountess O S' field. On the 31st alt., Mrs. Lloyd, wife of E. A. Lloyd, x"" of 14, Bedford-row. MARRIED, On the Ist inst., at Marylebone Church, James, foal: son of Mr. Richard Catt, of Blackheath -park, to ' 11 4 .,, 1/" r 11 „ C. Traverner, eldest daughter of Thomas Traverner, 0., of South R-von. On the 29th ult., at. St. Thomas's Church,Arbour.equi'l: Stepney, Mr. Henry Lane, of 4, Arbour Cottages stePo e L to Alice Louisa, eldest daughter of Joseph smith, P`' .- solicitor, of 3, Arbour Cottages, Stepney. DIED. On the 31st ult., at 60, Connau g ht- terrace, Hyde-P .r — iCt Thomas Renshaw, Esq., aged 74. On the 31st nit., Mr. Henry Thomas Monday, of James's-street, aged 73. Ba O ri n ow t il, e R 3 . l‘t N., fi ni f e th rsal so i n th Of C t a h rl e ta la i n te e S h i ti r r G ie ! Barlow, Bart., G.C.8., aged 56. fo On the Ist inst., at Poplar, Mr. James Littlep ag e, late the aged 69. On the 31st Ult., Sar a h , th e wife of Colonel Tempest, Of Tong Hall, Yorkshire, and Aughton, Lancashir e . On the 31st ult., M r. Benjamin C. Beane, of Newins— crescent, Newington-butts, aged 29. On the 26th ult. , at Bath, Miss Mary Bowes, daught er of the Countess of Strathmore and Colonel Bowes. __, t i t On the 30th n i t., at Did lington Park, county of Non°4— W. G. T. Tyssen Amhurst, aged 54. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112 i Strand, in the Pr , Kllnet of the S avoy, i n the count,' ° f uiddlefex, Wednesday, 'Tannery 2,1856. s,s 4113111 5 e 611CCI t Ltie 31 - i . EIN C I 'll tBaGacr T an ° u N°I. iT c b 7 I PAN !tncl on insurred, YE .RLEQUI. l' i ng a LEGS T , Wasar "agthe and 'kiting two teYe, meet thorn, in thi heChronic] Pantomi Rerrie, wit! Effects, wl ett o , ,, aIl it t 1 1 i s n ti c °o o :Ei ofr rze. Cutl;lie Wrong Aesif 18tn 3 S a l a, pngly lent '" n eed at 1 t , egarran get 'silted b y th • William Dc G uerin, of I 9 by ur. H. Ultrand and Coal eland Th e u'eau cam kited by MIT Hog g . T '. ll °Tton. I ". of Brydg l ion — bei; A RARRI %VERN '"Bf s" u ateraw B r it 14 of Forel . % Beer, 'Bga, bile des Arlingto i t° l 7, Rose i... s h rt, Ranee — "lstani G m ; ILI lir. Sammie] Sawn affelir. v oi ; 'illeto fit, Mr Simi • .loeke„. : liAltys il umo to th e y in 11 1101 e yohinle i,Tgl EXPI (11:1 tist vio k w 0 , In t of r Dite x 0 G°llll (th e 13 ,I sac $ 1ht13 4..11,1 °III/ e t the B. ti. i me ago z i It Poesible t, . A good 1 , i t eZ e .s he h is Leeklovlitat 1 11 1 , 1 ! faithf ui g i l ` l.'4 3'l'6P:ea] 6 Queen or: 4 of the 1 ardi3') Pin kY 1 . 141 w o ' is 1 v °, l l . ble A i d , i tiller s. tl s 'aPer Sr, 4 er..b eatei i hs __ ll °t allo w r, rim is , vr ' St4l4 ? - -Tor e L ; Ji m „ o < i kti . reo 11, , Jo e s i :etbield; ' i~t ; B Dici , ill Zr7°Y; Ch; u P4o k i ; ~, I . At pay 44,41 4'4°14 ?ROI ( f al t : h es:r E l kly, • T. i W he r'P Cinal E, 6 4 th e T h R ki ted of tse • -.4lcle n t 4 Si' Gayest( h lre p i, : te 4 of Fran ob la htn ef the e, Coat 'Hit PI /clueing a C ,'t',644sruoisell e 4, 1 1e2, n ose, t '' P age, Tressi filch Court •uUckingi l oic ' 4 , S I • P Sussex, 84 4 Court ts. ‘1. 411 . 1 t Lafittc Charlef to Cha TOUR lielbion's OILARD "le Nor. TrIE OL le k 'ndette St harm in epelieet—a q t : SPier's ktitil:s tile re, h a ' ale is PPen4 o b N. C*41141711 1 ,, T 1 GOL 'll4l rY Queej Nui 4 94 4 .. ....... 41)-iIL-TIER-A..; 04 I Ilk__ R ol o;r a t or,„ queat r i t o ' ' b e ll 11 Qk l i b 4 1111.1) ortts ....... , 0 tt )3 0. 1