The Sun. — London, England, 1856-01-08 00:00:00

F.1711:171 EDITION, This day is published, in crown octavo, beards, pp. 400, price 3s. 6d., by post 45., B RITISH MINES CONSIDERED as a MEANS of INVESTMENT. By J. H. MURCHISON, Esq., F.G.S., F.S.S., &c. Fourth Edition, with an Appendix, giving a Review of the Progress of British Mines, and the Dividends paid, during the year 1855, with their present Position and Prospects, &c. This Edition contains full particulars of about 150 of the principal Dividend and Progressive Mines in England and Wales. Copies may be obtained at Mr. Murchison's offices, 117, Bishopsgate-street Within, London. OPINIONS OF THE PRESS ON PREVIOUS EDITIONS. " Mr. Murchison's new work on British mines is attracting a great deal of attention, and is considered a very useful publication, and calculated to considerably improve the posi tion of home mine investments."—Mining Journal. " This is a valuable guide to investors in miues."—Hera path's Journal. " A very unpretending but useful little volume, and con• tains much information, which cannot fail to be interesting." —Morning Herald. " A valuable little book."--Globe. " The book will be found extremely valuable." —Observer. " A book extremely useful to the mine adventurer." — Plymouth Journal. " This is a very valuable book."—Cornwall Gazette. " A most admirable comndium—both of progressive and dividend mines—full of i n f or pe ma tion."—Waterford Mail. H E SII N, TO ARRIVE THE SAME EVENING, supplied to any STATION on the EASTERN' COUNTIES RAILWAY, Carriage Free, by CLAYTON' and SON, General Newspaper and Advertising Agents, 265, Strand, London. THEATRE ROYAL, DRIIRY-LANE. Lessee. Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, THE GREAT GUN TRICK. After which, IIEY DIDDLE DIDDLE; er, Harlequin King Nonsense and the Seven Ages of Man. THEATRE ROYAL. II tYMARKET. Under the Management of Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING. THE LITTLE TREASURE. After which the New Comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE BUTTERFLY'S BALL AND THE GRASSHOPPER'S FE AST ; or, Harlequin and the Genius of the Spring. et , yr TrIE tTRE, OXFORD-srazz?. Under the Management of Mr. Cuanza SaMe, THIS; EVENING, KING HENRY THE EIGHTH. Queen Katharine, Mrs. C. Kean; Cardinal Woisey, Mrs. C. Kean. After which, HARLEQUIN AND THE MAID ANS TIIE MAGPIE ; or, the Fairy Paradisa and Hanky Panky, tke Enchanter. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Hagan ; Pantaloon, Idr. Paulo; and Colnnf - Ane, Miss Caroline Adams. ROYAL OLYNIPEC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENINO. THE JEALOUS WIFE. Characters by Messrs. A. Wigan, G. Vining, Emery, Leslie, Dan vers, Mrs. Stirling, and Miss Marston. After which will be produced a New and deubly-moral, though excessively old, Melodramatic Fairy Extravaganza, entitled VIE DISCREET PRINCESS; or, th 3 Three Glass Distaffa. In which Messrs. Emery, F. Rotmn, H. Cooper, Miss Marg.° 1, ant Miss Maskell will appear. TELEATRE ROYAL ADELPIIi. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING. DMIESTIC ECONOM.Y. After which, IJEGENr PRIVATE AFFAIRS. To conclude pith JACK AND THE BE AN STALK; or. Harlequin and Mother Goose at Home Again. Tn which Messrs. J. Bland, P. Bedford, Madame Celeste, Ansi Wyndham, and Miss E. Arden will spear. ROYAL SURREY THEATRE. Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick. THIS EVENING PARIS IN 1792. To conclude with A PRINCE OF Pgr.ARLS ; or, 'radeluta and Jana Shore. rtOTAL STRAND THEATRE. Under the direction of Idr: Payni. THIS EVENING, THE HOLLY TREE INN. After which, HOW IS IT DONE? To conclude with UtLEQUIN BLICK-EYED SUE; or, dli in the Down; and Davy Jones's Locker. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPIIITLIEATRA. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Wm. Cooke. THIS EVENING, The popular and Interesting Spectacle de Roman, called ROOK WOOD; or, TURPIN'O RIDE to YORK. Wondrous adventures, narrow escapee, leap of a dve.barred gate, death of the mare Black Bess ! After which the SCENE 4 is the ARENA. To conclude with a Grand Equestrian Comic Pantomime, called HARI.F.QUEN AND ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON, or tne sewn Champions of Christendom. It.t-office open from Eleven till Fonr. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. iv. Cooke. Jun. WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. This Dev—Morn. 53 min. aft. I—Evening 18 min. aft. 2 To-Monsovv—Morn. 41 min. aft. 2—Evening 3 min. aft. 3 THE WEATHER-SUN OFFICE, JAN. 8. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 48 - highest since noon yesterday. 43 --ioweet this morning and during the night. 45 -this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29.14, WiNr, N.N.E.—Light, with dull weather, bat dry. • ~~~, ~~r __~~ LONDON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1856. Russia is still procrastinating—still evading a distinct and positive answer to a very decisive and unequivocal interrogatory. The most san guine advocates for peace at any price do not affect to believe that she will accept the terms tendered for her acceptance through Count ESTER HAZY. Severely as she has already suffered from the consequences of her own unwarrantable ag gressions, she is not as yet prepared to abandon the traditional policy which the present Ova?, on his accession to the throne pledged himself to maintain, or to give material guarantees for the observance of any conditions that might be agreed on. A variety of significant and perfectly intel ligible circumstances indicate the perverse obsti nacy with which she clings to her previous deter mination. The audacious insolence with which, by way of anticipating the proposals which Austria was about forwarding, and the nature of which were perfectly known at St. Petersburg, she sent as a satisfactory solution a rechauffee of the sug gestions put forward by Prince GORTSCHAKOFF at the late Vienna Conferences, and which were then indignantly rejected not only b y the Western Powers, but by Austria, proves this beyond the possibility of doubt. The appointment of Prince MENSCIIIKOFF, the avowed instigator of the War, to the Governorship of Cronstadt, and the act of wanton aggression so recently committed by the Persian vassal of the ..A.UTOCRAT in the treacherous capture of Herat, and the suspension of diplomatic intercourse between the Courts of St. James's and of Teheran, "add confirmation strong as proofs of Holy Writ" to the already conclusive evidences as to the disposition of the War Party in Russia, who have achieved such decided predominance in the Muscovite Government that they must carry any poi n t on which they have made up their minds. But, unfortunately, it is equally clear that she will strive t o get up a negotiation which may afford time to develops her insidious in trigues with soi-dis an t neutrals. Her diplo matists have already shown that they are utterly unscrupulous with respect to the means that may be resorted to secure the ob ject in view. - Wh ere, then, remains " the slightest peg whereon to hang a doubt ?" They will profess acceptance, although resolved to vio late in the most flagrant manner the spirit of their undertaking, and to' turn the delays thus obtained to their own advantage. The great danger to be avoided is a ,fresh negotiation, on any pretext, or under any circumstances what ever. We want to know whether we are to have Peace or War ! ' We are litnimque paratus, pre pared for either alternative, but we cannot suffer ourselves to be agiin entrapped into a course that is invariably injurious to England, and highly advantageous to her enemies. As Lord ELGIN recently remarked, with caustic truth—" Next to the successes of our arms, what we have had most reason to be thankful to PROVIDENCE for is the failure of our diplomatists." Let us not again afford a similar chance to our antagonists. It is with Germany and the Germans chiefly that the occasion may be improved by Russia. Our own impression is that nothing can be achieved on either side with that phlegmatic race, that neutrality will be maintained so long as it can be practicable, no matter whether they may be treated with the most profound deference or the most galling indifference. If they have wil fully and deliberately decided on abdicating the functions belonging to the Great Powers, we should permit them to remain in the position which they have advisedly chosen, only insisting that their neutrality shall be real, and not merely colourable, and that they do not render important aid to one of the belligerents while pretending friendship to the others, or at least perfect impartiality. We have found it an in tolerable task to attempt " moving such a dish of skim milk to an honourable action." They are unworthy of the labour. Had they acted in a becoming manner the War would either never have commenced, or have long since terminated. Had the Western Powers acted with perfect inde pendence from the beginning a similar result would have been attained. The heavy sacrifices of men and money to which we have so cheerfully submitted are as greatly ascribable to German imbecility and apathy as to Muscovite arro gance and ambition. For the sake of the PAL MERSTON Government, the best, perhaps, that can be hoped for, under existing circumstances, we trust that it will meet Parliament with a decided programme, eschewing, beyond all things, a diluted or milk-and-water policy, and leaving Germany to the unenviable and undignified position which she has chosen for hers elf. How it came to pass that the brave Garrison of Kars and its chivalrous Commander were com pelled to surrender to Gen. MOURATIEFF is one of those questions which cannot have too speedy, specific, and accurate an answer, and which ought, therefore, to occupy public attention until such an answer is forthcoming. Not only is this due to the heroic defenders of the fallen stronghold, whose extraordinary sufferings and endurance called for the promptest and most resolute di eer sion, but also to the fame of SELIM PASHA, the distinguished Commander to whom the relief of Kars was entrusted, and to the Western Powers, who have practically lost an important position, which, in case of an Asiatic campaign, will cost them a powerful effort and much loss of blood and treasure to regain. That blame attaches somewhere, grievous blame, will not admit of doubt. We need go no further than the testimony of the Russian General to place the fact beyond the possibility of dispute. He, it may fairly be presumed, knew the precise nature of the country to be passed over, and what an adventurous commander with ade quate resources could effect towards the raising of the siege, and knowing this we find him stating in his despatch that "having learned that OMER Paslla was with a large force at Batoum, I judged it necessary to attack at once." How came it, then, that ONIBIG PAsue. did nothing t Of all the commanders of the Allied Forces none has achieved a higher reputation for successful and daring generalship than he. It sometimes hap pens that the transposition of a general to a novel scene of operations more or less paralyses his efforts according to'the exte4t of difficulties he has to en counter. But in this case the Mushir found him self on the very scene on which he had won his earlier laurels, and with no difficulties before him save such as in former times he had triumphantly surmounted. Nay more, it is far from improbable that he was acquainted with the admission of the Russian General, and consequently had the strongest motive to push on to the rescue of the garrison. The sinews of war, it is said, were not wanting, transports were to be had in abundance, and the necessary powers to put his troops in motion were in his possession. Yet he hesitated to cross the mountain ridges of Lazistan, and General WILLIams had no other resource left him than to make the best terms he could with the Commander of the Russian Forces. What aro we to think of this mysterious business Was the Turkish Treasury really supplied in time with so much of the Loan as to enable them, if willing, properly to equip the Turkish army? If not, who was to blame ? If so, did they fail in their duty, or OMER PASHA in his, and is blame also attribut able elsewhere—to the Allied Commanders, or others, or not ? These are questions which must be answered. OMER PASHA refused to undertake a hazardous enterprise because, it is urged, of in adequate means. Will his plea be found justifi able, even to complete exculpation ? What we know of the man and his career leads us to believe it will, and that it will be found that no other course one whit more likely of success was left open to him. The problem, however, remains unsolved, and, as we have said at the outset, the most speedy, specific, and accurate answer is de sirable. Wherever blame may be due, let it be rendered without scruple, and, if to more than one party, let it be justly distributed. We cannot afford another blunder equivalent to the fall of Kars. In another part of this day's impression will be found a letter, which has just been addressed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer by Mr. S. A. GODDARD, of Edgebaston, Warwickshire, a well known and justly-celebrated writer on currency. We are always disposed to receive with respect ful consideration any suggestions emanating from such a quarter. Mr. GODDARD was a distin guished and consistent Free-trader, but ho also perceived that freedom of currency was at least as important as freedom of commerce, and that under cer t a i n necessary regu l a ti ons " unres t r i c t e d competition" was just as essential to the welfare and prospe r ity o f the nation in the one as in the other. However, then, we may differ in matters of detail, we feel it an imperative duty to give all possible publicity to the view s o h n i :d co s and to scrutinise clo se ly the of such a man, gr we cannot entirely coincide with n o cl n usi w o i n li s c . h The petition. which Mr. GODDARD some time since presented to Lord PALMERSICON on the all important subject has already been partially acted on, and it is more than probable that the views therein expressed may, to a great degree, if not altogether, be carried into execixtion during the rapidly approaching session. But Mr. GODDARD himself declares that he neper " for one moment considered that their adoption would place the circulating medium upon a permanent footing." That they would afford. very consider able relief during the existing prey mre is unques tionable ; but they would still n terely alleviate the evils resulting from the adoption of an erro neous and radically defective system t. The organic disease "would still exist ; and - for that Mr. GODDARD suggests a more extol asive remedy, which, as he conceives, would effvc t a total cure. TilE SUN, LONDON TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY B, 1856 His plan is very clearly developed ; there can be no doubt or difficulty with respect thereto. But although it would unquestionably be a consider able amelioration of the existing system, a de cided step in the right direction, we cannot regard it as a complete solution of the all-important problem, or one likely to be accepted as a perma nent settlement of the vexed question. It seems to us that Mr. GODDARD'S plan is open to some very serious objections —me of the principal being that the agency of the Bank of England is still retained, and that a private trading corporation is permitted still to be, to a great extent, the regulator of the national currency—a duty which, according to our judgment, should only be intrusted to a really National Bank, re sponsible to, and under the control and direction of, Parliament ; and, secondly, that it is, to a great extent, based on the erroneous principle, of which Mr. GODDARD himself justly complains, of treating the precious metals in the twofold cha racter of money and merchandise ; and that with that view a very considerable deposit of gold is re quired, which would, to all intents and purposes, be perfectly useless under any possible state of affairs. It is, unquestionably, the best bullionist scheme that has been propounded, but we wish a better measure and representative of value, one. that shall possess what we conceive to be the essential attributes of any really sound system of currency by being as portable, as inexpensive, as imperishable, and as free from fluctuation as pos sible. We have so frequently brought forward argu ments for the adoption of a National Bank, and against the usurpation of its functions by the Old Lady of Threadneedle-street, that it is unnecessary here to repeat them. We may, however, allude to the second feature of the plan, which is, that two fifths of all the notes in circulation, whether issued by the Bank of England, joint-stock, or private establishments, should be based on a deposit of gold bullion in the hands of commissioners and of three-fifths of Government securities. This, as it appears to us, supposing the circulating medium to amount to 80,000,0001. of gold and paper—a very low calculation involves the locking up of 32,000,0001. of gold, more, in fact, than is required under the existing system, and which would not be available to the bankers for the redemption of their notes. The notes would practically be a legal tender ; but that being so, -what could be the use of the deposit more than of a similar weight of paving stones, or of any other substance, however valueless. The circulating value of gold might be very useful if convertibility on demand should neces sarily be maintained ; but with the highest re spect for Mr. GODDARD, from whom we differ very reluctantly, we think the plan open to all the objections that have been urged against the purely national inconvertible note, while it does not possess the unquestionable advantages arising from such a medium of exchange. The matter is, however, well worthy of discus sion amongst the projects that have been brought forward, not merely from the prestige attached to Mr. GODDARD'S name, but also from its intrinsic merits as a ballionist, or at least a quasi bullionist, scheme. LATEST NEWS. THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. FRANKFORT, MONDAY. The Berlin correspondent of the semi-official Dresden Journal states that the telegraphic ac counts received there from St. Petersburg repre sent the state of negotiations as not altogether unfavourable, there being no reason to fear that Russia will peremptorily refuse to take the new peace proposals into serious consideration. MARSEILLES, MONDAY, 3 P.M. The Euphrate has arrived, with advices from Constantinople of the 31st, and from the Crimea of the 29th of December. Letters from General Williams of the Ist of December announce his arrival at Gumri in good health. BERLIN, MONDAY. The House of Representatives has chosen the Tory Count Galenberg as its permanent President, in preference to Count Schwetin. The numbers of votes were 191 to 104. OUR ARMY IN THE CRIMEA. DESTRUCTION OF RUSSIAN DOCKS. (From the Daily News Correspondent.) CAMP, SEBASTOPOL, DEC. 24. One of the five celebrated dry docks in the Kara belnaia suburb of Sebastopol was demolished by the French engineers on Saturday last, the 22d instant, at two p.m., by the explosion of mines. The destruction of the dock was fully accomplished, the blast having almost instantaneously reduced the massive fabric into a ruined and confused heap of stones. The intention of destroying a portion of the docks was not known in camp until an early hour of the morning of the same day. The six companies of the 18th Royal Irish regiment, which for the last month or five weeks have been quartered in tho Karabelnaia, assisting in the necessary preparations for the destruction of the three docks in rear, and the part of the basin in charge of the English en gineers, were moved up at five a.m., before day light. Their departure was thus unobserved by the enemy on the north side of the roadstead. It was considered prudent to march these men up to camp, in case the Russians might think proper, after the explosion, to direct a heavy fire on the suburb, and to avoid all risk of casualties, should any of the buildings fall from the concussion. This movement was a sufficient intimation that the explosion of part of the docks was at hand, but in addition all servants, and men on fatigue, going into the town for wood, were early in the morning stopped at the Radom, and subsequently a cordon of sentries was drawn round to prevent officers or any person from approaching within the neighbourhood of the docks where there was the slightest chance of danger from the explosion. As it turned out, however, these precautions proved unnecessary, for the mines were so laid that the effects of their explosion were confined to a very limited sphere of action. The dock selected ley the French engineers for de molition on this occasion was the one placed to the west of the lock through which vessels formerly en tered into the great basin. In addition to this dock, the French have to destroy another dry dock on the east side of the entrance lock, the lock itself, which, with its sides and foundations of cut masonry and magnificent floodgates, has the appearance of another dock, and half the basin. It is understood that the engineering operations are completed for the demolition of the whole of these structures, and that the object in demolishing one portion only was to test the accuracy of certain calculations with regard to the quantity of gunpowder necessary for effecting the desired result. The quantity actually employed is said to have been a little over 2,000 pounds English, or 1,000 French kilogrammes. The French engineers have followed a somewhat different plan from the English engineers for the destruction of the docks. They have trusted prin cipally to galleries carried across and beneath the bottom of the dock. They have also, however, parallel with each side a horizontal gallery, to blow out the foundation and lower part of each side wall. In the docks to be destroyed by the Eng lish, perpendicular shafts have been sunk at fre quent intervals along the sides, for the purpose of blowing the whole of the sides inwards. Latterly also, galleries have been constructed beneath the foundations of the bottom of each dock, so that their demolition must be very effectual. Arrange ments have been made for firing the English mines by a voltaic battery. The French mines on Satur day were fired by means of trains of laid gun powder and fuses. The report of the explosion was by no means loud. It was heard in camp, but was generally supposed to be the bursting of some of the Russian projectiles among the buildings of the town. Nearer to the scene of the explosion a tremulous agitation of the ground was felt, and this was followed by the pe culiar compressed sound —more like the rumbling of distant thunder than the usual report of gun powder fired from within metal—which accom panies subterraneous discharges. Simultaneous with the noise of the blasting, the air over the situa tion of the dock became thinned with smoke, stones, and rubbish. A large quantity, among which were masses of considerable size, rose per pendicularly upwards, while at the same time a shower of masonry was hurled from each side up wards and curving towards the centre. The greater portion of these blocks and fragments of stone ap peared to fall downwards into the vacant space of the dock ; scarcely any were observed to fly far beyond its limits. A dense cloud of smoke filled and rested over the place of ruin, and this con tinued hanging over it for a considerable time, for there was no breeze to waft it away. No sooner had the explosion occurred, the crash of the falling masonry had scarcely died away from the cars, when the sharp reports of several shells about the docks and neighbouring buildings told that the enemy had been no unobservant spectators of the scene. They hoped to hit some of the troops, whom they suspected to be in the neighbourhood of the explosion, the nature of which they no doubt understood, but, a; usual, fired without affecting any injury or causing casualty. It is remarkable how very few casualties have taken place among the Sappers and Artillerymen, and in the six com panies of the men of the 18th Regiment, who have been quartered in the Karabelnaia during the ope rations connected with the mining of the docks, notwithstanding the constant fire of the enemy. Until a short time ago, whe n a s hell entered a company's cooking-house, whence the men could not readily escape, and where, in consequence, se veral were wounded, not a casualty had occurred among the men of the 18th Regiment. The Rus sians appear to have the mega of the principal points, and moreover, seem to have men always on the look out, who make signals to the gunners in the batteries whenever a party of troops are observed moving in the town, for no sooneris a group exposed to view than it is fired at. One principal source of security to our men is, of course, the number of stone buildings of the town : these not only intercept the missiles of the enemy as they fall towards the ground, but afford tolerably safe means of shelter when a well-directed shell falls too dangerously close not to be, if possible, avoided by hasty flight. Report says that all the preparations will be com pleted for the demolition of the three docks to be destroyed by the English in the course of a week , from the present date. The arrangements would have been finished already had it not been for the large quantity of water which has found its way into the shafts and galleries excavated for the re ception of the blasting powder. It appears that the reason for the water having entered so copi ously into these excavations, while those connected with the French mines have remained dry, is their relative position with regard to the termination of the Karabelnaia ravine, between the Malakoff and Bedan hills, and at a short distance from the Dock yard wall. The three docks in charge of the Eng lish are separated from the end of this ravine, where an enormous amount of water had collected, and formed an immense pond or reservoir, only by an artificial causeway, constructed at an enormous expense of labour by the Russians during the for mation of the docks, and through this earth the water gradually percolated. Under ordinary cir cumstances the water of the middle Karabelnaia ravine would drain through the soil and find its way to the Karabelnaia creek or harbour, and in this direction the water collected in the shafts has now had to he conducted, after much labour, by pumping and other moans of drainage. It would have been more easy to have drained the shafts through the great basin, into which the three docks open ; but this would probably have led to flood ing a portion of the French works. When the time shall arrive for the destruction of the English por tion of the docks, it is hoped that their destruction will be as complete as that of the French dock already demolished, and if the three are demolished at the same instant the effect will be propor tionably more striking. I have heard it stated that the floor of the dock just destroyed by the French engineers has not been so effectually and completely broken up as it was anticipated it would be by the explosion, but hardly believe that this can be ascertained while it remains encumbered with the ruined masonry at present heaped over its surface. The weather has been much milder since the last mail left. During the daytime there has been a constant thaw, and it has only been after sunset that the temperature has reached the freezing point. The missing mail, due on the 13th inst. was de livered yesterday, the 23d. There is now only one mail due. CHRISTMAS DAY. Every corps is going to commemorate this festi val by dinners or feasts. Each company of men will dine together in their hut, at 1 o'clock, asking in most cases a few guests. Where there is an officer's mess-hut established, the officers of the regiment dine together. The commissariat have served out for to-day fresh meat, consisting of beef and mutton, and in addition to the ration of porter two quarts for every three men. The com missariat officers in charge of some of the divisions will allow one quart (per officer and man) of Tru man's porter for consumption to-day at the charge of one shilling per gallon, exclusive of the cask, for which, if not returned, one pound will be charged. All these arrangements are much to be encouraged. Nothing could exceed the busy ap pearance that Kadikoi and Balaklava made yester day. Every regiment in our army seemed to have a large party of 100 or 200 men employed in carry ing up to the front a hut, and every officer's pack saddle, bat pony and cart, struck one as being occupied in carrying up provisions and drinkables of some sort. Unfortunately the majority of offi cers who have parcels consigned to them by the Sardinian have not yet been able to obtain them, owing to gross delays and terribly bad management in the parcels office at Balaklava. The indifference shown as to whether the parcels are landed quickly or slowly is astonishing. The petty officials seem quite to forget that these parcels contain, in most cv.es, comforts for the Christmas. The Osprey, with parcels, is expected daily. This steam-ship I have little doubt will be freighted as heavily as the Sardinian. The wire from the Monastery of St. George to Varna is not likely to be again ready for work till the end of February or commencement of March. The breakage has been found to be about 25 miles this side of Varna. In fact, the authorities have tested this by means of the return current, and they know almost the point of breakage within a certain distance of five miles. For 20 miles this side of Varna, and five miles Yarna side of the Crimea, the wire is encased in a rope : between these distances it is simply covered with gutta percha, altogether about the size of your little finger. It is reported not to be worth while to fish up the line ; and even if it was, the chances are that the straining would injure it. The Monastery hospital now contains as patients one officer and 70 odd men. Besides Dr. Jameson and his staff, there are attending upon the sick Miss Weir, who is second to Miss Nightingale, with two servants. Drunkenness is very common, I regret to say, amongst the hospital orderlies ; and, in order to be able to confine them, and also to look after the place, a company of men is sadly wanted. The promotion of Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, C. 8., of the 90th Regiment, to full colonel has given great satisfaction. FRANCE. PARIS, MONDAY EVENING. The Emperor yesterday received in public audi ence M. de Olaguibel, who presented letters accre diting him to his Imperial Majesty as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Mexico. The Emperor afterwards gave private audience to the Marquis d'Antonini, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the King of the Two Sicilies, who presented the reply of his sovereign to the letters of recall of M. Delacour ; to M. Rumpff, resident Minister of the free towns of Germany, who presented the reply of the Senate of Frankfort to the letters of recal of the Marquis de Tallenay ; and to Baron de Worn berg, who presented to his Imperial Majesty letters from H.R.H. the Elector of Hesse, putting an end to his mission as resident Minister at Paris. The Memorial des Pyrenees, of the sth, says : " General Bosquet left Pau yesterday for Paris, having been summoned to the capital by electric telegraph. In all probability he is sent for to Paris to attend the Council of War which is to be held under the presidency of the Emperor." " Two battalions of the 50th of the line and the three battalions of the 39th detained at sea by bad weather," says the Moniteur, " were not able to make their entrance into Paris with their com panions in arms on the 29th ult. These troops, who have recently arrived, will enter the capital on Wednesday. The Emperor will send General Niel, his aide-de camp, who directed the works of attack at the siege of Sebastopol, to receive them; and they will be passed in review ley his Majesty in the court of the Tuileries, at 1 o'clock." " Amongst the numerous candidates for the see of Rochelle now vacant," says the Gazette d'An goumois, " Prince Lucien Bonaparte, son of the Prince of Canino, appears to have the greatest chance of success." Imperial decrees confirm three nominations to the Legion of Honour, and the grant of 18 mili tary medals by Marshal Pelissier to officers and men of the army of the East. BOURSE, Jan. 7, Two o'clock.—The market heavy at the opening, but afterwards rallied, on a report that favourable intelligence had been re ceived from St. Petersburg. The Threes rallied from 62f. 85c. to 63f. 45c. ; the Mobilier from 1,235 to 1,256. Half-past Three.—Prices continued improving until near the close, when they again slightly re ceded. The following are the last quotations : Cash. tr. e. End of Month. 4i per Conts 9l 25 —l. -e. 3 per Cents 63 10 63 35 New Loan 64 25 Bank Shares. 3175 Roman Credit Al:Allier 1255 Austrian Belgian Fives — Spanish Threes 4 O- Piecimontese B6 5) Home Debt ...... .. 34i Council of Stl - e, on R - , 7, 11 1 ..9, for :n quo of copper coinage to tho amount of three millions of roubles. A new vote to the same effect, under date Nov. 30, 1855, has been sanctioned by the Emperor. A second issue of copper coinage to the extent of three millions of roubles will therefore take place at the rate of 32 silver roubles to the poud. In a letter from the same place of a day's later date, and published in the _Hamburg Intelligencer, it is said : The energy with which the armaments and other preparations for war are proceeded with accords little with the reports of peace which are heard all over Europe. A special measure has just been put into execution in view of the campaign in the north with which wo are threatened. General Rudiger, commandant of the guard and the gre nadiers, has issued the following notification : " In consequence of the large number of officers required next year for th© service of the shore bat teries and the redoubts constructed for the defence of the Baltic coasts, naval officers, whose wounds have rendered them incapable of active service with the fleet, are invited to serve in the coasting batteries and redoubts." THE COUNCIL OP WAR IN PARIS. General La Marmora will arrive in Paris on Wednesday (to-morrow), and take up his resi dence at Maurice's Hotel. The General will pro ceed to England probably after the Council of War has taken place in Paris, at which the Em peror Napoleon and General Canrobert will assist. The representatives of England viz., the Duke of Cambridge, Sir E. Lyons, Sir R. Airey, Sir H. Jones, and Admiral Dundas—left town to-day for the French metropolis. The precise day of meeting is not yet fixed, but it is believed it will be some time between the 11th and 15th of this month. ADELPHI THEATRE. Last night a new farce from the prolific pen of Stir ling Coyne, entitled " Urgent Private Affairs," was pro duced at this theatre with the most signal succesF. A certain Mr. Dentatns Dotts, a dentist, to please his better-half, obtains a commission in the Hammersmith Loyal Militia, and to his great disgust, just as he is sitting down enjoying himself at home, a letter arrives from the Horse Guards, ordering him to proceed imme diately and report himself fur duty to his commanding officer. His wife, however, persuades him to obey the order. I n doing so, however, he imagines she is over persuasive, and he determines to return unexpectedly, with the plea of urgent private affairs. He does so, and discovers a certain Joe Jumballs—who is clandestinely visiting Sally, the housemaid—in his apartment, drink ing his favourite sherry. The dentist, in a towering rage, looks upon the intruder as the destroyer of his domestic "hearth-stone," and forthwith commence ejecting him by the window. In the struggle a flower pot is knocked over, which falls upon the head of a Mr. Bagshaw, a lawyer. Dotts, from the window, sees Bagshaw carried away senseless, and he imagines he is killed, and the fatal consequences of the accident converts the foes into friends. In the meantime Potts discovers the lady of his commanding officer in his wife's boudoir, wholis awaiting a secret interview with her lawyer, touching a deed of separation she has determined to have drawn up between her husband and herself. The Major, on reach ing home, learns that his wife has entered a cab with a gentleman, traces it to the house of Potts, and demands satisfaction. Revolvers are produced, and, just as poor Dotts is about to be " done for," his wife arrives and explains all ; and Dotts is further released by the ap pearance of Bagshaw, who, thanks to Potts' chaco, which he finds in the street, has merely been slightly injured by the falling of the flower-pot. Onr readers can better imagine than we can describe the acting of Wright as the suspicious and perplexed militiaman. During the whole of his performance the house was in a state of incessant laughter. The other parts were capi tally sustained by Miss Arden, Miss Kelly, Miss Keeley, Mr. Bedford, and Mr. Selby. The house was crowded to suffocation. His Royal Highness the Count de Flandres, attended by his aide-de-camp, Captain Burnell, landed at Dover yesterday morning, from Ostend. His Royal Highness came on to London by an early train, and left town for Windsor Castle at half-past 11 o'clock. Madame Musurus left town yesterday, for Elvaston Hall, on a visit to the Countess of Harrington. His Excellency the Turkish Ambassador will join the circle to-day. The Duke and Duchess of Cleveland are dispensing their usual hospitality at their magnificent feudal resi dence, Raby Castle. The Duke and Duchess of Somerset and Lady "Enrico, St. Maur, accompanied by the Hon. Mrs. Norton, have arrived at Torquay, from Maiden Bradley, his Grace's seat in Wilts. The Duchess of Manchester comes to town to-day for her accouchement, which is expected to take place very shortly. The Duke and Duchess of Grafton are still at Wake field Lodge, Northamptonshire. The Earl of Euston is staying with his noble parent. The Earl of Clarendon came to town yesterday morn ing, from the Grove, near Watford. The Countess and family will arrive in town to-morrow, for the season. The Turkish Ambassador had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street. Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons attended yesterday at the Foreign-office, Downing-street. Despatches from the Governors of Hong-Kong, Cey lon, and the Mauritius, were received yesterday at the Coionial-offiee. Despatches for the Governors of the Australian colonies and Malta were sent last evening from the Colonial-office. The Countess Helene Kielmansegge arrived at the re sidence of the Hanoverian Legation, yesterday, from visiting the Duke and Duchess of Manchester, at Kim bolton Castle. Viscount and Viscountess Falkland have arrived at the vei Viscountess j , from Sc a utters a ke i l l f y e, near Yarm, York shire. St. Leonards-on-S ea . Lady Ashburton a rri ved at Bath a H re ou ßt s i e l , l ye a s from the Grange, and goes to Windsor Cast l e to -d a y, on a visit to her Majesty. L ord Ashburton is preven t e d obeying the Queen's com man d s b y sl i ght i n di spos iti o n. s ty t n r dg a t a y Sir Charles and Lady Lamb have left the Clarendon, for Beauport, Battle, Sussex. RAILWAYS-FOB CASH. ft. C. 0. Orl.?ans Northern Lyons. Mediterranean 1240 Grand Central 570 Loons Geneva 677 50 Teste Cette 670 Austrian Com. 712 50 KINBOURN. " A letter from Kinbourn, dated the 17th ult.," says the Moniteur du Loiret, "has been commu nicated to us ; it contains some interesting details as to the situation of our vessels. On the 12th a sudden thaw of the ice took place in the Liman of the Dnieper, and our flotilla anchored there found itself in a very critical position. The vessels which were furthest out at sea were exposed to the shock of enormous masses of ice, so that their chains broke and they drifted. The floating-battery Lave was one of them, and at one moment it was feared that she would run aground and fall into the hands of the Russians. She was, however, fortunately able by skilful manceuvres to avoid the danger, and to get into the deep water of the Black Sea, from which she returned to the coast of Kinbourn. For some hours great anxiety was felt, and it was afterwards generally seen that the position could not be held with prudence, as the sudden breaking up of the ice frequently occurs during the winter. It was accordingly thought that the flotilla detached to Kinbourn would be recalled to Ka miesh, and that to make up for its withdrawal the effective force of the garrison of the fortress would be increased." RUSSIA. A letter from St. Petersburg, o f th e 29th, in the Constt▪ tuttonnel, says :—" Although Count d'Ester hazy has been here for th e last three days, and has had a private audience of C oun t d e N ess elrode, the questi▪ on of peace has made 110 progress since my last letter. The sittings of the council of war continue to be held every day, and they are for the most part presided over by the Emperor. The exclusive objects under consideration are still the territorial defence of Russia and the means to be adopted to repel an invasion. This fear of invasi on s h ows that Russia is not soin vulnerable as might have been at first su pp osed. Every one sees that as Sebastopol has been taken, Cronstadt may share the same fate ; and should such be th e case , St. Petersburg will fall into the enemy's hands. Count d'Esterhazy will leave with the staff of the embassy on the 15th, unless he gets a definitive reply. Great activity in the arsenals, and great want of gold and silver money, are the two facts most pro minent in advices from St. Petersburg. In a letter from that capital, dated 26th ult., and published in the Berlin National Gazette, we read : Notwithstanding the numerous issues of paper money, repeated loans, and patriotic gifts of no in considerable amount, money—i. e., gold and silver —has become exceedingly scarce. It is affirmed that even in the Baltic provinces, where trade is more active than in other districts, nothing but paper money is to be seen from Gatchina to Kowno. The Minister of Finances has repeatedly sought to remedy this state of things, but all his endeavours are foiled by the, practice which the Russians have of hiding their roubles while war lasts. He has, therefore, bethought himself of the vote of the THE EAST. CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec. 27.—Kars, the commis sion named to inquire into the state of affairs in Asia, and the councils of war held at the Seras kierat, still occupy public attention, so that even the rumours of peace which every post brings us from Europe do not excite so much interest as they would at other times. The arrival of Dr. Sandwith, and the particulars of the siege which reach us daily, have given quite a tragic character to the history of Asia during the last two months. General Williams's intention had always been to cut through the enemy when every hope of relief had disappeared; but the letters which he continued to receive up to the last moment, especially from Selim Paella, of Erzeroum, made him hope and per severe, and when at last the futility of all these pro mises dawned upon him it was too late for such a resolution. A council was held to discuss the possibility of this last remedy, and Kerim Pasha, —one of the best and bravest of the Turkish com manders—did not hesitate to declare that the emaciated soldiers, even with the courage of de spair, could not march with their muskets for a mile without sinking under the load, and the nearest Russian forces were at four miles' distance from the town. One may imagine what point ex haustion had reached when some time before the surrender a body of Cossacks with two guns ap proached one of the forts and began to throw shells into it, and of all the guard only three men were able to crawl to their post. Had the Russians known the exact state of things they could have taken the town without resistance. While in the town all were vieing with each other in perseverance and self-sacrifice, meanness and selfishness seemed to be the order of the day with out. In spite of all indications of an approach ing movement on the side of the Russians, and with all the facilities afforded for providing the town with every thing necessary in the beginning of the siege, the grossest neglect prevailed in every department. First, as regards the munitions of war, it will be scarcely credited that only three days' ammunition was in the town for the guns of position. The secret was well kept, and the Russians will have discovered it only after taking possession of tho town, for, had they known it, they would certainly have made a few successive false attacks, which would have soon exhausted the ammunition of all the heavy guns. And this was the case in a fron tier town, exposed every moment to an attack of the enemy, while mountains of ammunition encum bered the magazines at Erzeroum and Trebizond ! Halett Bey, the Chief of the Ordnance Depart ment of the Asiatic army, is under inquiry in con sequence. The starvation which led to the final surrender of the garrison in less than four months tells its own tale. An exposed fortress like Kars, the key of the surrounding country, ought to have had at least one if not two years' provisions in it, while the garrison received even in the second month half, and in the end a quarter of a ration. Tahir Pasha, the defterdar, or commissary -general, is accountable for it. Notwithstanding repeated re quisitions from General Williams, from the very beginning, he found pretexts for refusing. Had it been left to him, the town would have been abso lutely without any provisions at all at the begin ning of the investment ; fortunately, General Williams took the matter into his own hands, and thus was enabled to hold out so long ; but the difficulties thrown in his way were such that, with all his energy, ho could not complete his arrange ments. Thus, you see, there were not a few proximate causes which 'contributed to the fall of Kars, but they do not excuse anybody for this state of things, which was pretty well known by the constant de spatches of General Williams. As Kars was not in a position to save itself, it was to have been saved by others. Now that it has fallen there are no end of councils of war, sendings of troops, and seri ous thoughts of appointing a proper commander in-chief for the Asiatic army. The 14 Pashas were the real bane of it, and it is time that this absurd and fatal state of things should be altered. Several men-of-war, which had been left at Kin bourn, after the departure of the English expedi tionary forces, among them the Tribune, 30, and Curacoa, 30, have arrived on their way to Malta, so that now only one English man-of-war remains there to represent the flag. Admiral Lyons offered to leave one of the English floating batteries during the winter there, but it was not accepted. The departure of the English squadron was caused by the ice, with has set in in great force. The gar rison, although shut up completely from the land side by the Cissacks, is in good health, and quite prepared to receive the ItHssians should they trust themselves on the ice. Some such attempt is, in deed, expected during the winter, but no appre hensions are entertained on account of it. _ The two great rafts of timber which had gone adrift were thrown on shore, and are going to pieces ; but, even had this not been the case it would have been a hopeless experiment to attempt to tow them across the whole width of the Black Sea at this time of the year. AUSTRIA. A letter from Vienna, of the 3d, in the Post Ampt Gazette, says :—"Colonel do Manteuffel, im mediately after his arrival last evening with an autograph letter from the King of Prussia, visited Count d'Arnim, and then Count Buol, in company with that Ambassador. He visited the same even ing Field-Marshal Grunn, Aide-de Camp to the Emperor. He is to have his audience of the Em peror this day. It is affirmed here in military circles that the Austrian Government was invited to send a general officer to the Council of War which is to take place in Paris, but that it refused. It is oven said that the officer suggested for the purpose is Baron de Hess, but I cannot guaran tee either one fact or the other. PRUSSIA. A letter from Berlin of the 3d, in the Universal German Gazette, says :—" It is expected in diplo matic circles that the reply of Russia to the last propositions for peace will arrive on the 17th. The cession of a part of Bessarabia is the point which the partisans of Russia attack with the greatest violence. They assert that Austria has gone much too far in starting that condition, and that it will give rise to great difficulties for Germany. There is nothing to show that this is the opinion of the Cabinet of Berlin, although it is pretended in Russian circles that Col. de Manteuffel is charged to exercise a certain action on the Cabinet of Aus tria, and to assure it that the concurrence of Prussia and of Germany will not be given, except on conditions to be positively fixed beforehand." GREECE. ATHENS, Dec. 24.—The Queen's birthday has been celebrated by a Te Daum, at which the Mini sters and the corps diplomatique were present. In the evening there was a grand dinner, at which General Jacquimot, commanding the French ex peditionary carps, and M. Merci er , th e French Minister, sat on the King's left hand, and Mr. Wyse, the English Minister, on the Queen's right. The city was illuminated in the evening. MARKET NEWS.—(This Day). HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 4/ 48 to Cl 04 ; clover ditto, 4/ 10s to 6/ 154 ; and straw, 11 4s Od to 1/ lOs Oct per Trade steady, at full prices. CIIMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 4/ 5s to 61 0 ,, : cloves do.. 4 88 to 61 145 ; and straw, 1/ 5s to 1/ 103 per load. A fair demand. WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, 4/ 45 to 61 Os; clover 41, 8s to 61 18s; and straw, 1/ 48 to 11 104 per load. Trade rather dull. COLONIAL. TEA.—The market has been very inactive, purchasers awaiting the !nuit ©f the public sales, which take place to-day. Su"n• —The transactions in sugar have been but trifling, and quite of a usual character. Foreign and Colonial have been sold at rather lower rates. COFFEE.—Nativa Ceylon has beer. dull, although holders refuse to submit to any reduction in price. Plantation sold at fully the rates of last week. 'TALLOW.—The market has been without any animation. P.Y.C. on the spot G7s 9(.1 to Gas per owt. A. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, 10 A.m. The United States steamer Baltic has arrived, with advices from New York to the 26th ult., and 300,000 dollars specie on freight. Congress had again adjourned without electing a Speaker, consequently there is no President's message. The steam ship Northern Light has been seized ' by the Government as she was about to leave New York, on a Filibustering expedition to Nicaragua. A large number of the adventurers had been cap- • turecr. In seizing the Northern Light she had to be brought to with a round shot from a revenue cruiser, which afterwards made the steamer anchor under her guns. The British ship Resolute, abandoned in the Arctic ice, had been taken into Newhaven. The Hudson's Bay Arctic expedition, in search of Franklin, had returned, after reaching the place where Franklin's crews were reported to have perished. Dr. Rae's report was fully confirmed. They met Esquimaux in that vicinity who had seen ; the whites, and gave much valuable information. On the island were discovered the remains of a boat, which had been partially destroyed by the natives for the sake of the wood and the metal fastenings, • although there was sufficient left to identify it as be longing to the Franklin expedition, one fragment of wood (now as well as some other small relics in the possession of the Hudson's Bay Company at Lachine), having the name Terror branded on it, while another piece has the name of Mr. Stanley (Surgeon of the Erebus) cut upon it, this latter being part of a snow shoe, evidently of Eng lish manufacture, being made of oak, a species of woDd no man accustomed to use snow shoes would ever select for the purpose. No papers or books, •, ; and no human remains were found. The Esqui maux were very friendly, and freely displayed all their treasures obtained from the boat or found near it, and these consisted principally of the oars, used by them as tent poles, the boat kettles, the empty preserved meat cases, &c., but no papers, and the natives stated, with every evidence of sin cerity that none had ever been seen or found ; everything portable was secured and brought back. It would be useless to recount them all, but we may mention bar iron, rope with the Government mark on it, oars branded with the broad arrow, pieces of buntin (remains of a flag, a letter holder, a step of a mast, &c., all clearly European, and all Government supplies. Advices from Mexico state that the Solent left Vera Cruz on the 15th ult. with $2,500,000. From the New York commercial letters we learn that there was a slight improvement in the stock market, and a good feelin g prevailed. For money there was an activ e d eman d, with an adequate sup ply, at the rates previously current, viz., 10 to 12 per cent. The last Bank statement was considered. favourable. In exchange the business was not active, and the market closed flatly at 84 to 9 per cent. on London. The cotton market ruled quiet, with prices in favour of purchasers. Flour had advanced 121 c., in consequence of an increased export demand. Scotch pig iron was quiet but firm, at $3l to $32 ; in other matters there was no material change. THE RUSSIAN CALL TO ARMS IN ASIA The Invalide Busse publishes the following pro clamation addressed to the noblesse of the Transcau casian provinces after the landing of Omer Pacha, by Lieut.-General Prince Bebutoff, commander of the army of Tiflis : Illustrious Princes and Nobles,—Yon know that upon the great men of a country rest the foundations of the social life, and that they always precede their inferiors in the trials to which peoples are subjected. A trial now awaits your country, where the Christian faith has been established since the time of the Apostles, and where hostile forces have always succumbed before your fidelity to the Czars. - The reason for which our enemies have risen against our Emperor, the only orthodox Czar in the world, is not unknown. They have envied his power, they have been jealous that he, full of love for men, conformably to the law of the Saviour, should demand for the Christiana living in Turkey relief from wrongs and sufferings. Three powers, calling themselves Christian, have con sulted with the enemy of Christians, and have proposed to overturn the grandeur of Russia, and to destroy the protection beneath which we now repose. The Turk, in entering your sacred country, pollutes it. He threatens to destroy the law observed steadfastly by you in the course of eighteen hundred years ; he threatens to destroy all upon which your prosperity rests ; the church where sleep your illustrious ancestors ; the houses which shelter your wives, your children, a n d y our pro perty ; the distinction o f classes by which the high are distinguished from the low, and which has been from all time your privilege. The enemy has not remembered that in your prayers to the Almighty you utter these words, " Make my heart pure, oh God ! and raise up my spirit in distress ;" he has forgotten that your faith has been watered by your blood, and that the prosperity of your families rests in your own hands, which have never proved unfaithful. Our Government is persuaded that there is not one amongst you who cannot discern falsehood from truth, and defeat the snares of the enemy. Faithful to the Emperor and to his service, you have often shed yeur blood in circumstances where the danger was less im minent. Now the enemy is before you • he has already crossed your frontiers; he seeks to afflict the heart of the Emperor by your misery, the loss ofyour property, and the destruction of your faith. The time of trial, sent by the impenetrable decrees of God, has come ; the hour in which the soil, desecrated by the feet of your enemy, must be purified—that the soil consecrated by St. Andre and the holy martyre— the hour in which the ashes of your ancestors, lying in your temples, must be protected from sacrilege ; your personal dignity be maintained intact ; your wives, chil dren, and property be defended from outrage and vio lence ; thus honouring the precious traditions of your fathers, and showing your fidelity towards God and His anointed, our Monarch. Arm, every one of you! Ann the peasants and y our set% vents ; unite yourselves to the victorious troops of Rus sia, who have shed their blood for you. Show the enemy that you are the children of those noble 'men tions, Gouriens, and Mingrelians, who were never van quished in the times of old. It now depends on you that this war with the enemy become the cause of the entire people, and be waged throughout the length and breadth of the country. In every shrub, in every hollow, behind every stone, pre• pare his death, in order that the indefatigable adversary of our faith may learn at last that be is unworthy to be buried in Christia❑ and consecrated ground ; let him know that you will bury him where the sound of church bells is unheard—in the spots which serve only for the lair of savage beasts. Salvation - to you, in the name of the Lord, illustrious princes and noble gentlemen ; raise above you the vic torious sign of Hie cross, and, marching under its pro tection, drive the enemy from yOur territory. The Lieut.• Gen. Prince BaBUTOFF. The following proclamation has been issued by General Mouravieil In my absence from Tiflis Lieutenant General Prince Bebutoff, at my orders, addressed to the noblesse some words full of honour and truth. The moment is come in which you must prove before the entire world that you are the true sons of those fathers who fought for some centuries in defence of the faith and the sacred ties of the domestic hearth. You must prove that it was not in vain that Russia shed for you her purest blood, and that you are worthy of the sublime and holy affection which the heart of the Emperor hears for you as his or thodox children. lam fully convinced that you will all respond to Prince Bebutoft's appeal, accompanied by the benedictions of the priests, who will unceasingly offer up prayers in your behalf. lam convinced, too, that the example of the glorious nobility will be followed by all the other classes of the inhabitants of Imeritia, Gouriel, and Mingrelia, by the bourgeois, as well as by the freemen and the serfs. Your cause is glorious and agreeable to God ; and the whole world is watching you. Arm, brothers, and crush, in the name of God, the perfidious wiles of your implacable enemy. "The cross on your breast and sword in hand," as said the Emperor Nicholas, of imperishable memory. "God is with us, who shall make us afraid ?" _ The Lieutenant of his Majesty the Emperor in the Caucasus, Aide-de -Camp General MOuRAVIEFF, Kars, Nov. 30, 1855. EXPLOSION OF A POWDER MAOAZINE.—The Persian Gazette of the 24th November states that a large powder magazine at Cashin, near Teheran, had blown up with a tremendous explosion. Twelve persons lost their lives by the accident, the cause of w hich remains a mystery. By the exertions of the inhabitants the firs wa s p re . vented from extending beyond the building itself. SOMETHING LIKE A CHRISTMAS•BON.—Mr. Heywood, of the firm of Heywood, Sons, an d Co., extensive bankers, Liverpool, has given the handsome sum of 1,001 guineas, to be divided among the clerks and employes of the establishment, as a tim e ly a id to them, as clerks with fixed salaries, during the pressure eausei by the,war. The Pressa d'Orient of Constantinople, says that the Czar has admirably received the French offi cers who were taken in the neighbourhood of Kin burn. His Russian Majesty is reported to have said to them, "I shall soon shake hands with you as your friend." The Swedish journal .b'aedrelandet reports, under date Stockholm, Dec. 24 Activity unexampled reigns in every manufactory for producing articles necessary to the equipment of an army. Th e colonels of all the regiments have received orders to supply their troops with everything necessary to prepare them for marching at the first signal. The order was given secretly, but it was in its nature impossible of concealment. All leaves of absence to officers are refused. Everybody here believes that in case the allies should open the war with vigour in the Baltic next spring, our government will feel itself compelled to take au active part therein," r% CON The Li heavily 6,000 bat and Mar Gd. ; 250 31d. to Islands, Share M prices we The rec went to t pose o f Madrid, I banking at Madric upon th e tain Prep pose of el national. entered ii lip the re; to the Cc are Senox toandez. The Fr day at a ( 35 centina and the s falle n 401 agitation rather gl( decline 01 Society Me literr: North of In eons graph w i t have not It app teuador : lb. Januai consequel in the tra meat of their agr latt er coi Would be Bonds in and also Coosolida r esolution As the the E n o Cours e of b een mac Price s of 04 e dire( t ors are Railw the mov t " ° n3 arE a re part x orkshi The Gre SUpportt bank 1 4 the been rec ~RITIs. k Sto vtr vex p er cc Xsw 3 ix O ne An , Ditto 30 Dittoltidi~, Bo vino, .on,Jols Ditto I Etche, 150 Rena Ditto Ditto PR Dutch Ditto ItEP for T a bend', a rep . electo i Lord tion. NE Care quen( the b fo r a and over Lit; it baenal tercla AI derst liane tia ra , Miss barr NV dißtii .B . P4rt ip so , bedal , P Janc laat 8 01 d acre