The Sun. — London, England, 1861-12-16 00:00:00

,:= 4 1P 0 YAL E NGLISII OPERA, COVENT G ARDEN. tinier the uianagement of Miss Louisa Dyne f.nd Mr. Win., J:STY under the overwhelming — weight of her I ..,preme sorrow, we have the solace of knowing Lat that mitigation at least her MAJESTY Dos ,,sses to the very uttermost. Expiring as his Royal Highness has done in the forty-third year of his age, it is impossible to regard his demise as otherwise than lamentably rremature. Yet within the narrow span marked out by these two simple dates—the alpha and omega of his earthly career— His Birth on the 26th August, 1819, and I this is all that can be said of it. That he is i posed to give up his prisoners, is clear from his tpassing by the opportunity of doing it with the best grace. He know, for all the American' press knew, the illegality of the mode of cap ture. This was never denied—it was only alleged 'that we were gainers by not taking the Trent before a prize court—the clear illegality w'3uld have been an easy ground for saying, even to an American mob, that their Government must 3ffer the restoration of the prisoners. Such dignity and honour are, of course, hardly within the com prehension of a nation of DODSON and FOGGS ; but as the illegal retention of the prisoners has been . his deliberate act, we presume he means to persist lin it, though he had not the folly to speak out till Ehe could tell Congress how the business stood on both aides. Harrison, Sole Lessees. To-Morrow Eyenin_, , THE PURITAN'S DAUGHTER. Miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Susan Pyne ; Messrs. Santley, A. St. Albyn, Corri, G. Honey, Patey, Lyall, W allworth, T. Distin, Dussek, and W. Harrison. Conductor, Mr. ALFRED MELLON. To conclude with THE TOY MAKER. Mr. H. Haigh, V. Fyne ; Mesdames Susan Pyne and Thirlwall, Commence at Seven o'clock. The Box-office open from Ten to Five daily. No charge for bookino., or fees to Box-keepers. THEATRE.ROYAL, HAYMARKET,I Leagee, Mr. J. R. Roctratoap. To-Morrow Evening FAMILY JARS. Mr. Compton and' IVErs. E. Fitzwilliam. To be followed by OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Lord Dunireary, Mr. Sothern. Mr. Buckstone, Mr. Farren, Mrs. C. Young, t ir,e. After which, MY AUNT'S ADVICE. Mr. Howe, Mr. ] Sotheran, Miss Oliver, &c. To conclude with MY HUSBAND'S GHOST. Commence a 7 ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE] Manager—Mr. Edmund Falconer. '(To-Morrow Evening the Deli ormanoes will commence withl TILE DAY AFTER TIIE WEDDING Mr. Walter Lacy, and Mrs. St. Henry. After which, at a quarter to Eight (32d time) the new and original Drama, entitled PEEP O'DAY ; or, Savourneen Declish. Messrs. Walter Lacy, 'Hermann Vezin, Charles SFiby, Edmun i Falconer ; Mrs. D. P. Bowers, Miss Clara Weston. His death on the 15th December, 1861, how much is there not comprised of worldly honour ', I , njoyed and of good work nobly and earnestly ac-' - complished ! More than half of the Prince Con- Isort's lifetime, it should be borne in mind, has ,been passed in a position of the most delicate and supreme responsibility. It will be recorded in his -, regard upon the pages of our National History that )f that most supreme and most delicate responsi- " iility he acquitted himself almost entirely—to ad- niration. Occasional errors of judgment were l in his instance, and with respeot to those respon ~ abilities—we are wi : lling to believe now—the rare - !And fleeting exceptions. At any rate, it must,: ;henceforth be remembered in connection with' , 1 Ithe resplendent and courtly existence of !kis Royal Highness ALBERT FRANCIS' ~ AUGITSTIIS CHARLES EMMANUEL, Duke of SAXE- • GOTHA and PRINCE CONSORT of England, that throughout nearly the whole of the glorious Reign of VICTORIA he stood beside the Throne as the Royal Husband and intimate ad-; viser of that Monarch who, among all our monarchs, has won the distinctive title of the most Con ,titutional Sovereign who ever wielded the sceptre of these realms. Sharing in the splendours of the Court, he must be allowed to participate in some measure in the glory of winning for his Queen-, Wife that magnificent appellation. In this lies, in truth, whatever there is for him of political fair fame. His intellectual eminence is yet more distinctly defined, and is, we may rest perfectly confident, assured in its perma nence. Prince ALBERT'S name must hence forth be for ever inextricably connected with thel ; development of the blended excellences of Art and Industry in the United Kingdom. His Royal Highness was, beyond all question and without, the shadow of a doubt in our minds as to' the literal accuracy of the words here em- - ployed while we are writing them one of the most accomplished Princes who ever lived. Individually rarely gifted, he had his natural en dowments cultivated to the utmost extent of culti vation, first of all under the care of private tators," : subsequently through three years of student-life in the University at Bonn, and afterwards we may; assert pretty confidently, more or less during the whole of the rest of his existence, by that most im- i portant of all kinds of education, self-education. And it became one of the most vital parts of the business of his energetic life to turn those culti vated intellectual capacities of his so far as might be in any way practicable to the national advan tage. That in this endeavour he achieved an in disputable success we all of us perfectly well know. The simple and undeniable fact that it is so, is in effaceably stamped indeed upon the record of 64 growth of late years, particularly of the blended , growth, of Art and Industry in this country. In testimony of which it is only requi-i site to bear for a moment in remembrance! what was indubitably the most splendid of all' Prince ALBERT'S personal achievements—the first great international Exhibition. An achievement , that we may surely designate with the strictest accuracy of phrase—remembering the Fairy Pelee: that glittered ten years ago on the green sward of Hyde park— 1 The fortifications of the coast-line could point to but one danger—that of war with England. It is; l a second edition of the letter of Mr. SEWARD to the , Governors of the States urging them to fortify their i ake, river, and coast lines, and is doubtless suggested l by the danger to which he knew he had exposed him ,self already, or was about to incur. So far it goes. l i the "Emphatic approval of the conduct of Captain - i 1 WILKES by the Navy Department," must be con sidered as an expression of the opinion of the Ex ecutive. It has not, however, all the importance; !which a similar act would have in England, the !relations of the Departments with the Cabinet being 1 I far less close than with us. Still it is a very grave, and fill-looking fact that a first-rate Federal Govern ment Department should openly give its sanction I to the act which England will not submit to. 1 The vote of Congress, however, is the most 'serious of all. Whether by that term be meant only the House of Representatives, or the Senate • also, it can hardly be regarded as other than a' !national defiance of England—one which the (PRESIDENT, after receiving our demands, must' sustain by refusal to comply. That the vote of • !Congress represents the vote of such cities as Boston and New York we already know; nor ldo we see how the vote can admit of !more than one interpretation. Had there been anything but the "outrage" in what Captain WILKES did—had there been high courage' or consummate skill, or any naval merit to praise, we might have supposed that the feat, in that 'aspect, had elicited the commendations. But it is !significant, indeed, that while we read of no vote lof thanks to General BUTLER for his conduct at Fort Hatteras, or to SHERMAN and DUPONT for! the Port Royal affair, we hear of a vote of thanks! where the only bravery was that of defying thel laws of nations, and the only skill that of worming the intentions of men out of them by accepting their hospitality, and then set ting off to take them prisoners from what was really British territory, and where they had every right to believe themselves safe from violence. Such a vote, by the mildest interpretation, can only mean that Congress exults in having a commander who defies the British, while the South defies it. 'lt is meant as an intimation of the kind of answer' which the President is to give to Lord Lyons, andl there is little reason to hope that the President is the man to resist his Congress. Some of Mr. LINCOLN'S remarks . with regard to foreign Powers will be read with a smile. We foreigners are reminded that the preservation of the Union which passed a MORRILL Tariff was more for their commercial advantage than Ire° Trade • with half of it by its separation from the Protec tionist half—a rather doubtful view of the case, as "many will think. Further, that the Union was the l • maker of the foreign commerce, and that the trade l with one strong nation is of more value than with; 1 the same nation broken into hostile fragments. Of! this, however, again, many will doubt ; since the t larger part of these fragments want to selli us either corn or cotton, and are there . fore naturally friends to Free Trade with foreign countries. England cannot doubt that, so far as commerce is concerned, it would be far. better for her that both the South and the North west of the old United States should be independent Governments—both of them would tolerate nothing but a revenue tariff on foreign goods, and would' make the manufacturers of Philadelphia and Massa chusetts pay the same duties as were paid by those of England ani France. To conclude with AN UNPROTECTED FEMALE, in which Miss Lydia Thompson will Dance the Volunteer step. 1 - " ' Acting Manager—Mr. F. B. Chatterton. Prices as usual. Doors open at half-past 8, to oemmenoe at 7. Box-office open daily from 11 till 5. tLOYAL PRINCE S S'S THEATRE.— Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Harris. To-Morrow Evening,. JEANETTE'S WEDDING. Miss M. flat ris and Mr. 11. Widdicomb. After which, at Ei;:rht o'clock, Shakespe ire's tragedy of OTIII:LLO, with new scenery, dresses, and appointments. Othello, Mr, Pechter NEW ROYALTY THEATRE Dean-street, Oxford-street. Under the Direction of Mdlle. Albina di Rhona. T.)-Morrow Evening the petite Comedy, MATRIMONY. Camelia, Mdlle. di Rhona. Followed by ALL IN THE DARK. To con dude with A SMACK FOR A SMACK. Box-office open from 11 to 4. Doors open at 7—Commence at half-past 7. NOTICE. —In consequence of the lamented Death of his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, it is respectfully announced that " THE OXFORD" and CAN TERBURY HALL will be CLOSED THIS EVENING (3ronday). MORTON and STANLEY, Proprietors. MUSIC HALLS and PUBLIC GARDENS. — At a Meeting of the Proprietors of Music Halls and Public Gardens, it was resolved that, in consequence of the melancholy event of the death of his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, the Music Halls and Public Gardens in the Metropolis should be CLOSED THIS EVENING (Monday), and also on the day of the funeral. And it was further resolved that the Meeting should recommend the Proprietors of Music Halls and Public Gardens throughout the United Kingdom to close on the last mentioned day. These resolu tions to be inserted in The Times and other daily papers. Dated this 16th December, 1861. FREDK. STANLEY, Chairman. CANTERBURY HALL CONCERTS AND FINE ARTS GALLERY. LAST WEEK of MR. SAM COWELL, who will, "at Eleven o'clock, sing several favourite Songs, including " THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT." Grand Selections from STRADELLA and LA PRA VIATA, By Miss Russell, Miss Ernst, Signor Tivoli, Mr. Herbert, arc. Solos by Herr Sesselberg, the great Basso. Comic—Mr. Marshall, in "John Bull, or they don't bam boozle me ;" Mr. Randall, from "The Oxford;" Mr. Wood and his talented son, and Miss Harriet Coveney. Musical Director, Mr. Jongtmans. Admission—Hall, M. ; Stalls and Balcony, ls. CANTERBURY HALL-GRAND CHRIST MAS ENTERTAINMENT, by Mr. E. MARSHALL "THE ENCHANTED HASH SECOND EDITION," (Written expressly for him.) . Commencing on BOXING-NIGH r. CANTERBURY HALL. -M. VICTOR JULIEN, " THE FLYING BEAN." from Paris, will make his First Appearance on the 30th December. T HE 0 X F O R D, 8, OXFORD-STREET. - - - Selections from "LA CIRCASSIEITNE," "Simon Boma rit.,zra," and "Ernani," by Miss Russell, Miss Ernst, and Madame Enderssohn; Messrs. Albert, W. Morley, Greene, and Greville. Full Band and Chorus.—Conductor, Mr. F. Jonzhmans. Balfe's new ballads by Miss Russell and Madame Enderssohn (composed expressly for them). And Varied Comic Entertainments by Miss Harriet Coveney. Messrs. W. Randall, Sam Collins, Harvey and French (The Nerves), E. Marshall, and SAM COWELL. Hall, 6d. ; Balcony and Stalls, is ; Private Boxes, 10s. 6d. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tins DAY.—Morning, lh. 12m.—Afternoon, lh. 38m. To -MORROW. -Morning, lh. 54m.—Afternoon, 2h. 10m.' THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, DECEMBER 15, 18d . THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 46 —Mghest since noon yesterday. 41—lowest this morning and during the night. 47—this:day at noon. BAROMETER-30.29. WlND—North-Westerly ; light, with cloudy weather. Drc. 16. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 47—highest since noon yesterday. 43—lowest this morning and during the night. 49—this day at noon. .27. Wnvp—North-W e e E light, TEß-30 with dull, foggy, mil, weather. " One entire and perfect Chrysolite." The honour due to the departed Prince we have endeavoured briefly to define in its political appli cation, and its purely intellectual application. Whatever political honour he has won from his adopted country, he has won simply as we have said in his capacity as the Royal Husband and the intimate adviser of the most constitutional Sovereign who ever sat upon the Throne of England. Whatever intellectual honour he has associated with his name he has so associated by his enlightened and assidu ous promotion of the interests of Art in its alliance with the ceaseless developments of Industry among the toiling millions of the United Kingdom. But l immeasurably beyond these merely political and in tellectual titles to our lasting admiration, and even fo a considerable extent be it said to our grateful remembrance—there is a far higher, purer, nobler, more enviable renown that is unquestionably his. We cast upon his tomb the most perennial and deserved of all the votive wreaths that can be laid, there by national respect and affection, when NVE record the simple but significant fact that his Royal ,Highness the PRINCE CONSORT closes hi& career in the forty-third year of his age—he who, shortly after his twentieth anniversary, be came the central figure of a brilliant Court, stir rounded from that instant by all this world's most enervating and exquisite seductions—that ALBERT.. the Prince Consort of England, closes his life, after the lapse of nearly a quarter of a century, passed ir the midst of this earth's most refined allurements, and this, moreover, in the full glare of public scrutiny, without ever having had the hint of a momentY slur . of suspicion upon his character. Remember ' ing the profligates who have revelled of yore in the midst of the luxuries of our Court, it , is something, surely, worthy of notice that a young Prince, who came amongst us in the heyday of his youth, closes his life two and twenty years afterwards, with a wholly spotlesF reputation, having been throughout that interval a very pattern and model of a true Husband and a fender Father. England, in effect, has abounding reasons enow at this moment of supreme anguish ander a very solemn and startling bereavement, to treasure up the good name and the fair fame of the' PRINCE CONSORT, while proffering to her Most Gracious MAJESTY, in these first agonising mo ments of her widowhood, the heartfelt sympathy of a whole nation's grief. ; The PRESIDENT declares that his reliance is not • on foreign States, but on the integrity and patriotism of his own people. Still he seems almost to bid • for foreign support. He says we might be easily taught that our aim—our commercial aim he means —could be much more easily gained by " aiding to crush the rebellion" than by giving encouragement l to it. We have a strong suspicion, that, with all their pride, Mr.LINcoLN and the Americans did wish in some way for our aid. Hence their mortification and bitterness towards England, and their concealed :mortification with France. They wished that we should treat the South as a rebel mob, whose x rebellion interfered with our cotton supply, that by denouncing them as rebels, and by treating them as such, we should give a strong moral support to the North, and perhaps do the South some unkind and damaging turn. This was the cause of their wrath at the conduct of England in acknowledging the belligerent position of the South, and that wrath we believe is hardly subsided yet. Much of Mr. SEWARD'S later insanity is to 'be traced to it; and though they now see that the position cannot be censured, still it was not the con inct which the great people of the North, the chil irent :of " Manifest Destiny," the fathers of the sons who were to rule the whole of North America, and in due time the South also—it was not the conduct which so grand a Republic expected of cur hands. Whether time, trials, and reason will 300 l down the present temper of the North remains , o be seen ; but we must confess that at present they seem to be like the " drunken man " of Mr. BRIGHT'S picture "hitting all around them." WE can only hope that our demands may operate on Americans as the cold air or a sudden fright some times does on an intoxicated man. LONDON, MONDAY, DEC. 16, 1861. It is difficult even now to realise the magnitude of the calamity that has abruptly befallen the QUEEN and the Nation. As difficult as it would be to exaggerate the profound sympathy with which all the loyal subjects of the Crown, of every glass. regard the exquisite affliction of our revered and beloved SOVEREIGN. Suddenly snatched from the midst of us, in the very flower and fruition of his , manhood, His Royal Highness the PRINCE CON SORT has been so long and so conspicuously fami- 1 liarised to the public gaze, that it will require the lapse of time to render appreciable, in the first instant even credible, the fact of his disappearance. The earliest intimation received by the public that there was any probability whatever of a Death so utterly unlooked for, was conveyed through the Bulletin issued on Thursday by the physicians in attendance upon his Royal Highness. That document, it will be remembered, spoke of the " quiet night" passed by the Prince—adding, however, rather dubiously (for the announcement might have signified anything) the symptoms , had undergone little change. The subsequent, Bulletin, the one issued on Friday, spoke, on the! contrary, of " a r es tl ess n i g ht" h av i ng b een passed by his Royal Highness, and but too plainly avowed that the symptoms had assumed an unfavourable character. Coupling with this the circumstance that the Heir to the Crown had been summoned in the dead of the night from Cambridge, and had consequently hastened instanter from the Univer-j arriving at Windsor Castle by express train, at three o'clock in th e morning, the public were ! - almost prepared on Saturday forenoon for the catas trophe which was unhappily so soon afterwards to The long•expected document from Washington be announced. As the day advanced, however, the has arrived, and if in one respect its contents are, joyful tidings were received that the condition of the better than we had ,feared, in others, and in con- Royal Patient evidenced a manifest improvement. nection with the circumstances, they are worse. It would not be extravagant to assert that the intelligence conveyed through this brief announce -1 The PRESIDENT says nothing respecting the seizure of the Commissioners on board the Trent ; but he mont on Saturday afternoon, was everywhere re- , loes say fortify your Coasts, lakes, and rivers. Con goes much further ; it votes thanks to ceived with a sense of positive relief and of grate- ~ gress, agai n , ful consolation. The improvement thus notifiedL the man who had the courage to beard common -1 by the physicians, however, was only too soon after - Z` sense, international law, and England, by what hit wards recognised to have been wholly illusory.celcountrymen term the " gallant" act of attacking an As typhoid had supervened upon gastric fever— gluearmed mail steamer. What is the interpretation the original disease —so a profound ex haustion,ioof these words and votes? that all the applian ces o f ar t f a il e d to conten d w i t h 0 It had been feared that the PRESIDENT —th a t i s effectually, resulted from both, And by 10 minutes the executive of the Northern States —would have to eleven o'clock on Saturday night his RoyalEcommitted himself by his Message. He has not Highness had ceased to breathe. The intelligencedone this. So far good. But it has to be remem. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS AT KNOWSLEY. The of this most lamentable event, it is simple truth totibered that until he had learned what the English :Earl a nd en te rtainin gCountessao select Derbyw circle h ee v e tewh, of Newport, 1 l e , friendst Duke course L oar and o dt f eKDa l n a un s tcoe t hwr eb:ul week, seryyo-f 1 1, . . ;;hall. Among the visitors say, has been received everywhere throughout Cabinet had to say on the subject, it would have Manchester, Lord and Lady $ Lo ndon, throughout England, as it will be received , been. most unbusinesslike and imprudent to declare and other members of the aristocracy Lord Stanley and afterwards throughout the utmost limits of this what his own opinions were, and what his coursli vast e • naPsre, with a pang is well that exulg, some to each like that of ''would be he could not know. It residents at the hall. I Governor Walker transacted business at thee P" s°ll a l alliction. If sympathy can in any taticon in the capture of almost personal enemies did way tend to alleviate the bitter grief of her MA- not hurry Mr. LINCOLN into an obvious folly; but Colonial-office on Saturday, on his departure for Barbadoes.! THE DEATH HE PRINCE CONSORT, The news of the serious illness of the late Prince Consort alarmed and amazed all England on Satur day. To the attentive readers of the Court Circular it was only known that his Royal Highness was slightly indisposed, and the bulletin which on Satur day announced that his illness had taken an un favourable turn spread dismay and astonishment throughout the country. Then, all at once, the fear fnlaffiiction which threatened her Majesty was seen, and on every side information as to the state of his Royal Highness's health was sought for with the most intense eagerness. The announcement which we published in The Sun of Saturday, that a change, slightly for the better, had taken place in the illustrious patient's condition, was welcomed as' almost a relief from the state of feverish anxiety under which all had waited for news. Unhappily, this slight improvement, which raised such ardent hopes wherever it was known, proved to be but a precursor of the fatal issue. During Saturday morn ing—at least in the early part—his Royal Highness undoubtedly seemed bettor, and, notwithstanding that his condition was in the highest degree precari ous, the change, though sudden, was marked, and almost justified the strong hopes which were then entertained that he would recover. This change was but for a short time, and, in fact, but one of those expiring efforts of nature which give delusive hopes to the mourners round so many death-teds. Soon afterwards his Royal Highness again relapsed. and before the evening it became evident that it was only a question of an hour more or less. The Prince hank with alarming rapidity. At 4 the physicians issued a bulletin stating that their patient was then in " a most critical state," which was indeed a sad truth, for at that time almost every hope of recovery had passed away. Her Majesty and the Prince 'al Wales (who had travelled through the previous night from Cambridge), the Princesses Alice and Helena and the Prince and Princess of Leiningen, were with their illustrious relative during all this mourn ful and most trying period. The approach of death from exhaustion was so rapid that all stimulants failed to check the progressive increase of weakness, and the fatal termination was so clearly foreseen that even befors 9 o'clock on Saturday evening e telegram was forwarded from Windsor to the city. stating that the Prince Consort was then dying fast. Quietly and without suffering he continued slowly to sink, so slowly that the wrists were pulseless long before the last moment had arrived, when at a feN minutes before 11 he ceased to breathe, and all was over. An hour after and the solemn tones of the great bell of St. Paul's—a bell of evil omen—told all citizens how irreparable has been the loss of thei] beloved Queen, how great the loss to the country. During yesterday the intelligence was received everywhere with a feeling so painful that ii would really be difficult to exaggerate the amaze . went and grief manifested. The first fear—s wide, deep, and general fear —was, that the great and keen affliction with which it has pleased Heaven in its wisdom to visit the Royal Family might prove too much for the strength of he) Majesty, and that she herself might sink under he) irreparable bereavement. A bulletin, however posted at Buckingham Palace, stating that the Queen, though overwhelmed with grief, bore het loss with calmness, and had not then suffered it health, was soon known'everywhere—such was the eagerness with which news of the Queen at such heavy time was sought for. Yesterday intelligence of the national calamity was communicated to the citizens of London through the Lord Mayor, at the Mansion-house, it jthe subjoined official letter from the Secretary o I Siate for the Home Department : beforell o'clock, his Royal Highness the Prince Consort departed this life, at Windsor Castle, to the inexpressible grief of Her Majesty and of all! the Royal Family. " Whitehall, Dec. 15. "My Lord,—lt is with the greatest concern th ai I inform your Lordship of the death of his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, which took place al Windsor Castle last night at ten minutes to clever o'clock, to the inexpressible grief of her Majesty and the Royal Family._ " I request your Lordship will give directions fo] tolling the great bell of St. Paul's Cathedral.--i have the honour to be, your Lordship's most obe. dient servant, " G. GREY. "The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor." Again, yesterday afternoon his Lordship received by special messenger the following bulletin, copie' of which he immediately caused to be posted on the most conspicuous places in front of the Mansion house : " Windsor Castle, Sunday, Noon, Dec. 15. "The Queen, although overwhelmed with grief bears her bereavement with calmness, and has no suffered in health. " JAMES CLARK, M.D. " HENRY HOLLAND, M.D. " THOMAS WATSON, M.D. " WILLIAM JENNER, M.D. This document, and the letter of Sir George Grey. a copy of which was likewise posted at the entrancE to the Mansion-house, were read with melancholy interest by thousands of the citizens throughout the remainder of the day. Yesterday afternoon the Rev. Canon Champney, the preacher at St. Paul's, made a touching allusion to the great national loss in the course of his ser mon, and earnestly commended her Majesty and th Royal family, in their state of grief and desolation to the sympath'es and prayers of the congregation fhe bells of the City churches were tolled at inter- vals yesterday, and in most of the sermons preached allusions were made to the solemn event. Nor wa& this manifestation of public feeling confined to the clergymen of the Established Church only. Al the Roman Catholic, the YeNtish, and the Greel churches similar heartfelt prayers and solemn con dolences were offered. At Cambridge, both by reason of the intimat( relationship with the University as its Chancello) and the residence of his Royal Highness the Princ , of Wales in the town, the news produced a profounc sensation. It did not reach Cambridge yesterday till 10 40 a.m. It then spread with proverbial ra pidity, but nevertheless was not so widely know) but that in some of the churches of the city the speedy recovery of his Royal Highness was earnestl3 prayed for. The bells of the University (St. Mary's, commenced tolling, but still the mass of the peoph ' were unwilling to believe the melancholy news Wa: -true. In the University Church profound emotior, was evident when the officiating minister, the Rev. C. D. Marston, of Caius College, omitted the nam( of his late Royal Highness from the prayer for the Royal Family, and (as Chancellor) from that for the blessing of the Almighty on " this our body" (i.e. the University), in which prayer the various digni. l taries of the University are enumerated. The Queen, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, their Royal Highnesses the Princess - Alice and the Princess Helena, and their Serene High nesses the Prince and Princess of Leiningen, were all present when his Royal Highness expired. The death of this illustrious Prince will be deeply mourned by all Her Majesty's faithful and attached subjects as an irreparable loss to Her Majesty, the Royal Family, and the nation. At Bristol the news of the death of the Prince although not altogether unlooked for, from thi gloomy nature of the telegrams of the preceding da:( was received with profound regret by all classes ()I the citizens. From the pulpits of the various churches and chapels touching reference was mad( to this national calamity, and sincere prayers were ' offered for the Royal widow and her fatherles 'children. lAt Reading, about an hour before the church ser vice,! the funeral knell at St. Mary's and St. Giles'. Churches announced to the inhabitants the death ol '1 ' the Prince Consort. At St. Mary's Church the Bishop of Oxford preached in the evening, and e ' most touching allusion was made by his Lordshij to the melancholy event. , At Warwick the intelligence was first of all com municated to Mr. Justice Willes, who is holding thr `i- i winter assizes there, and who, on receiving th( i mournful information, expressed his deep sorrow and great regret. '1 he bells of the churches were !tolled ; and it was not until they heard the tolling of the bells that the inhabitants generally would believe in the truth of the reports. In the evening. at all the places of worship, prayers were offered or behalf of the Queen and Royal family. At Nottingham the intelligence arrived by tele igraph, and was immediately posted up at the Corn lExehange. All classes, rich and poor, appeared to sympathise with her Majesty in her sad bereave ment. (From the London Gazette Extraordinary of Sunday,' Dec. 15.) WHITEHALL, DEC. 15. On Saturday night, the 14th irst., at 10 minutes: Te_ C•• AIBIERICA. (From the Court Circular.) WINDSOR CASTLE, DEC. 14. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales arrived t the Castle at 3 o'clock this morning, from ! Nladingly-hall, attended by Major-General the Hon" R. Bruce and Major Teesdale. His Serene Highness the Prince of Leiningen; eturned in the forenoon. Captain Grey has succeeded Major Teesdale as t querry in Waiting to the Prince of Wales. The Duke of Cambridge arrived from London ~arly this morning to make inquiries after his Royal Higheess the Prince Consort. His Royal Plighness the Duke de Nemours also called to make nquiries. The following bulletin of the health of the Prince ; Consort was issued this morning : "His Royal Highness the Prince Consort has had quieter night, and there is some mitigation of the everity of the symptoms. " JAMES CLARK, M.D. " HENRY HOLLAND, M.D. " THOMAS WATSON, M.D. " WILLIAM JENNER, M.D. " Windsor Castle, Saturday, 9 a.m., Dec. 14, 1861." A telegram was despatched at 10h. 40m. a.m. of - he state of his Royal Highness WINDSOR CASTLE, DEC. 14. " There is a slight change for the better in the Prince this morning." In the afternoon the following bulletin was issued :- 1 " WINDSOR CASTLE, DEC. 14, 4n. 30M. P.M. "His Royal Highness the Prince Consort is in a c most critical state. THE FEDERAL CONGRESS. IPRESIDENT LINCOLN'S MESSAGE. The following is the full text of President Lin jeola's Message : " JAMES CLARK, M.D. " HENRY HOLLAND,;.,M.D. " THOMAS WASON, M.D. " WILLIAM JENNER, M.D." The bulletin announcing the decease of the Prince Consort was as follows ; "WINDSOR CASTLE, SATURDAY NIGHT, DEC. 14. "FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,— . " In the midst of unprecedented political troubles we have cause of great gratitude to God for unusual good health • and most abundant harvests. " You will not be surprised to learn that in the peculiar 'exigencies of the times, our intercourse with foreign nations has been attended with profound solicitude, chiefly turning %upon our own domestic affairs. A disloyal portion of the American people have, during the whole year, been engaged in an attempt to divide and destroy the Union. A nation which endures factions and domestic divisions is exposed to disrespect abroad, and one party, if not both,' is sure, sooner or later, to invoke foreign intervention. Nations thus tempted to interfere are not always able to resist the coun sels of seeming expediency and ungenerous ;ambition, al though measures adopted under such influences seldom fail to be unfortunate and injurious to those adopting them. il" The disloyal citizens of the United States who have offered the ruin of our country in return for the aid and comfort which they have invoked abroad, have received less I,patronage and encouragement than they probably expected. if it were just to suppose, as the insurgents have seemed to assume, that foreign nations in this case, discarding all moral, social, and treaty obligations, would act solely and selfishly for the most speedy restoration of commerce, in cluding especially the acquisition of cotton, those nations appear as yet not to have seen their way to their object 1 more directly or clearly through the destruction than r through the preservation of the Union. If we could dare to believe that foreign nations are actuated by no higher principle than this, I am quite sure a second arguthent could be made to show them that they can reach their aim more readily and easily by aiding to crush this rebellion than by giving encouragement to it. t " The principle ever relied on by the insurgents for ex citing foreign nations to hostility against us, as already ; intimated, is the embarrassment of commerce. Those na vi tions, however, not improbably saw from the first that it i was the Union which made as well our foreign as our v domestic commerce. They can scarcely have failed to per ceive that the effort for disunion produces the existing difficulty, and that one strong nation promises more durable %peace, and a more extensive, valuable, and reliable com , rnerce than can the same nation broken into hostile frag ments. "It is not my purpose to nview our discussions with foreign States, because, whatever might be their wishes or 'dispositions, the integrity of our country and the stability of our Government mainly depends, not upon them, but . on the loyalty, virtue, patriotism, and intelligence of the : American people. The correspondence itself, with the s.liusual reservations, is herewith submitted. I venture to - hope it will appear that we have practised prudence and >" liberality towards foreign Powers, averting causes of irrita * tion, and with firmness maintaining our own rights and honour. Since, however, it is apparent that here, as in ;.• every other State, foreign dangers necessarily attend do mestic difficulties, I recommend that adequate and ample 'i measures be adopted for maintaining the public defences on every side. While, under this general recommendation, provision for defending our coast line readily occurs to the ,* mind, I also, in the same connection, ask the attention of '• Congress to our great lakes and rivers. It is believed that some fortifications and depots of arms and munitions, with ; harbour and navigation improvements at well-selected points upon these, would be of great importance to the na tional defence and preservation. r " I ask attention to the views of the Secretary of War, expressed in his report upon the same general subjects. ' " I deem it of importance that the loyal regions of East : Tennessee and western North Carolina should be connected with Kentucky, and other faithful parts of the Union, by railroad. I therefore recommend, as a military measure, `z. that Congress provide for the construction of such road as •speedily as possible. " Kentucky will no doubt co-operate, and through her - -Legislature make the most judicious selection of a line. xF The northern terminus mn.l-. ennnAd with some existing, : railroad, and whether the route shall be from Lexington or Nicholasville to the Cumberland Gap, or from Leba-1 non to the Tennessee line in the direction of Knoxville, or on some still different line, can easily be determined, Kentucky, and the general government co-operating, the ' work can be completed in a very short time, and when .• done it will be not only of vast present usefulness, but •., also a valuable permanent improvement worth its cost in all the future. Some treaties, designed chiefly for the -• interests of commerce, and having no grave political im portance, have been negotiated and will be submitted to the Senate for their consideration. Although we have failed to induce some of the commercial Powers to adopt a_desirable melioration of the rigour of maritime war, we have removed all obstructions from the way of this humane reform except such as are merely of temporary and accidental occurrence. "I invite your attention to the correspondence between her Britannic Majesty's Minister, accredited to this Govern ment, and the Secretary of State, relative to the detention of the British ship Perthshire, in June last, by the United States steamer Massachussetts, for a supposed breach of the blockade. As this detention was occasioned by an obvi ous misapprehension of the facts, and as justice requires that we should commit no belligerent act not founded on strict right, as sanctioned by public law, I recommend that an appropriation be made to satisfy the reasonable demand of the owners of the vessel for her detention. • "I repeat the recommendation of my predecessor in his annual message to Congress in December last in regard to the surplus which will probably remain after satisfying the claims of American citizens against China, pursuant to the • awards of the Commissioners under the act of the 3d of March, 1859. - "If, however, it should not be deemed advisable to carry that recommendation into effect, I would suggest that authority be given for investing the principal over the pro `. ceeds of the surplus referred to in good securities, with a view to the satisfaction of such other just claim of our citizens against China as are not unlikely to arise hereafter' in the course of our extensive trade with that empire. " By the Act of the sth of August last, Congress autho rised the President to instruct the commanders of suitable vessels to defend themselves against and to capture pirates. This authority has been exercised in a single instance only. "For the more effectual protection of our extensive and valuable commerce in the eastern seas especially, it seems to me that it would also be advisable to authorise the commanders of sailing vessels to recapture any prizes which pirates may make of the United States vessels and their cargoes, and the consular courts established by law in eastern countries to adjudicate the cases, in the event that this should not be objected to by the local authorities. " If any good reason exists why we should persevere longer in withholding our recognition of the independence s and sovereignty of Hayti and Liberia, I am unable to dis i cern it. Unwilling; however, to inaugurate a novel policy in regard to them without the approbation of Congress, I submit for your consideration, the expediency of an appro priation for maintaining a Charge d'Affaires near each of these new States. It does not admit of doubt that impor tant commercial advantages might be secured by favourable treaties with them. "The operations of the Treasury during the period which has elapsed since your adjournment have been conducted with signal success. The patriotism of the people has placed at the disposal of the Government the large means demanded by the public exigencies. Much of the national loan has been taken by citizens of the industrial classes "His Royal Highness the Prince Consort beeame l rapidly weaker during the evening, ;and expired without suffering at 10 minutes before 11. " JAMES CLARK, M.D. " HENRY HOLLAND, M.D. " THOMAS WATSON, M.D. " WILLIAM JENNER, M.D." The following bulletin of the state of the Queen't bealth was exhibited yesterday at Buckingham Palace : " WINDSOR CASTLE, SUNDAY Noox, DEC. 15 " The Queen, although overwhelmed with grief, bears her bereavement with calmess, and has not ,offered in health. " JAMES CLARK,. M.D. " HENRY HOLLAND, M,D. " THOMAS WATSON, M.D. " WILLIAM JENNER, M.D." Among the members of the Diplomatic Corps and the nobility and gentry who called yesterday at Buckingham Palace to make inquiries after the ealth of her Majesty the Queen were—the Russian Ambassador and Baroness Brunow, the Turkish Ambassador and Madame Musurus, the Danish, Minister, the Swedish and Norwegian Minister, thsi Portuguese Minister, the French Ambassador and the Countess de Flahault, the Greek Minister and Madame Tricoupi, the United States' Minister and Mrs. Adams; Mr. Wilson, Secretary, and Mr. Moran, Second Secretary of the Legation; the Italian Minister, the Brazilian Minister and Madame Nicreira, the Austrian Ambassador and Counter,: Apponyi, the Netherlands Minister, the Bavarian Minister and Baroness Cetto, Secretary Sir Georg( . tad Lady Grey, Viscount and Viscountess TorringH on, Mr. Phillips, Lord Harris, the Hon. Mortimer tnd Mrs. Sackville West, the Duchess Dowager of Somerset, Sir J. South, the Lord Chief Justice and Lady Erle, Sir J. and Lady Emerson-Tennant, the r -lon. C. Gore and the Countess of Kerry, Admiral Lnd Mrs. Bowles, Mr. and Mrs. H. and Miss Hope) Reeve, the Chaplain-General, the Dowager Lady Clinton, the Earl and Countess of Airlie, Mr. andl Mrs. Merivale, the Lord Mayor and the Lady Ilayoress, Sir J. and Lady J. Walsh, Mr. E. Marjoribanks, Sir Hamilton and Lady Seymour] the Dowager Viscountess and the Hon. Miss Hari iinge, the Dean of Westminster and Miss Trench. Sir J. Romilly, Lord and Lady Elcho, the Dowager Countess of Lichfield, Sir Benjamin and Miss. Brodie, Colonel and Mrs. F. Paget, Viscount May. lard, Lady Caroline and Miss Lascelles, Mr. C Greville, Sir C. Douglas, M.P., Mr. Du Pasquier, the Countess of Fife, Lieutenant-General Sir F Ind Lady Smith, the Earl of Lucan, Lord Suffield. \lr. A. Biddulplt ; Lord Dynevor, Mr. and Mrs. H. Addington, the Earl and Countess of C or k, th e ' Countess Dowager of Jersey, the Earl of Clan william Sir R. and Lady Murchison, Lord and Lady Mon-; teagle, Mr. and Lady C. Schreiber, Sir Fitzroy Kelly,' Sir R. and Lady Mayne, the Earl and Countess Grey, Colonel the Hon. A. and Mrs. Liddell, the Countess Falmouth, General Sir G. Bowles, Mr. and Lady E. Walsh, General Sir H. and Lady Ross, Captain the Hon. J. and Mrs. Denman, Sir Benjamin and' Lady Hawes, Sir J. and Lady E. Ferguaon,Viscount Ind Viscountess Bury, Viscount Bury, Lieut.-Gen ! end Lady Mary Fox, Mr. and Mrs. H. Rich, Lady ! G. Fane, together with numerous others. WINDSOR CASTLE, DEC. 16. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge ar rived early this morning and remains at the Castle. Her Royal Highness Princess Mary of Cambridge arrived from Kew to make inquiries. LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, DEC. 16. In consequence of the melancholy event of the !death of his Royal Highness the Prince Consort The theatres will be closed this evening, and again 3n the evening of the funeral. (From the Observer.) His Royal Highness Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel, Duke of Saxony, Prince of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, K.G., K.T., K.P., G.C.8., G.C.M.G., LL.D.,' D.C.L , Ph.D., &c., was the second son of Ernest, Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, by his first wife, Dorothea Louisa, Princess of Saxe Gotha. His royal highness was born at iosenau, August 26, 1819, and his marriage with Queen Victoria took place on the 10th February, 1840. The Act if Parliament under which the Prince was naturalised wad he 3d Vic., cap. 1 and 2. The income granted by act ofi Parliament was £30,000. He received his titleof Royal ) Highness by patent, dated February 6, 1840, and was em )owered to quarter the royal arms on the 7th February in she same year. On the following day he received his com nission as Field-Marshal, and he was made Colonel of the llth or Prince Albert's Own Hussars on the 30th of April, [B4O. In April, 1842, he re?eived his commission as Colonel, the Scots Fusilier Guards. In August, 1850, he bee me colonel-in-Chief of the 60th Rifles, and on the 28th of September, 1852, he was appointed Colonel-in- Chief of the Rifle Brigade and Colonel of the Grenadier Gaardp. On the death of the Duke of 'Wellington his Royal nigh -less was granted letters of precedence next after the Queen ;,... ,n the sth of March, 1840, and was nominated a Member ': whose confidence in their country's future, and zeal for their f the Privy Council on the 11th of September, 1840. He 4 country's deliverance from its present peril, have induced .; ,vas appointed • Grand Ranger of Windsor Park in 1811. them to contribute to the support of the G overnment the aid received the Order of the Golden Fleece in April of ..•• t• whole of their limited acquisitions. This fact imposes peen -. hat year. In April, 1842, he received the appointment of liar obligations to economy in disbursement and energy in Lord Warden of the Stannaries and Chief Steward of the ' action. - Duchy of Cornwall. Ho became Governor and Constables . " The revenue from all sources, including loans for the A Windsor Castle in May, 1843, and first and principal -' s financial year ending on the 30th June, 1861, was eighty- Knight Grand Cross and Acting Great Master of the Order s . A the Bath in June, 1843. He was also made High Steward six (86) millions eight hundred and thirty-five thousand 3f Plymouth in June, 1843, and Captain-General and nine hundred dollars ($ 86 , 835 , 900 ) and twenty-seven cents; , . 3olonel of the Artillery Company on September of that year. and the expenditures for the same period, including pay- Elis election as Chancellor of the University of Cambridge meats on account of the public debt, were eighty-four mil ook place on the 27th of February, 1817. He was High ~ lions five hundred and seventy-eight thousand and thirty- Steward of New Windsor, in July, 1850, and President of four dollars and forty-seven cents, leaving a balance in the he Zoological Society in July, 1851. On the 19th of Octo Treasury on the Ist July of $2,251,065 80c. for the first aer, 1852, he was nominated Master of the Trinity House. quarter of the financial year, ending on the 30th September, In February, 1856, he was made Knight of the Order of the 1861. The receipts from all sources, including the balance Seraphi m -by the King of Sweden. His creation as Prinre of July Ist, were one hund re d and two dred and thirty-tw o th ousan d fi ve h un d re d an d n i ne d o ll ars :lonsort was effected by letters patent, dated the 2d of July, and twenty-seven cents, and the expenses ninety-eight• 1857 ; and he was elected President of the Horticultural mil- lions two hundred and Lirty-nine thousand seven hundred, Society in February, 1858. The Prince Consort was edu- k .. cated with his elder brother, the present Duke Regnant k •?and thi_rty-three dollars and nine cents, leaving a balance k ' on th of Saxe Coburg Gotha, under the Consistorial Councillor, t of October, 1861, of four millions two hundred Florchutz; and at the University of Bonn. His studies and ninety-two nety-two thousand seven hundred and seventy-sif l there included ancient and modern languages, history, the ; dollars and eighteen cents. physical and natural sciences, music, and painting. In 1838' ' he visited England-with his father, and in two years after- "Estimates for the remaining three quarters of the year, '-, wa r ds was mar ried to Queen Victoria, at St.:James's Palace., and for the financial year of 1863, together w ith his view • i T of the ways an d means f or mee ti ng th e d eman d s con t em s' Despatches were received on Saturday at the' - 'plated. by them: will be submitted to Congress by the cSe re- Colonial •office from the governors of the West India Islands, L ary o f th e T reasury . - - the Australian Colonies, Ceylon, Hongkong, and Lakin. "It is gratif . yin' gto know that the expenses made necessary ig , _ 4 ? '. vist.. , k i t%) • - ~.,-,- ~ y , , ~ ~,,,,,u___2 _ ,A , ., .. .•-•-__ L 7.7-2.c.---:, ‘ • ~.2t•-..:y... ' `',- -- - - 4 .F, c' ''34- -- ,.' =5" —r.. .., : ........ i. a L-:,4 , -....tt '.' 4 i - . - jtt ' 1 - ' l ' • ~i o s ,- ... ->. i'li - lifi ti. " ...,, - THE SUN. MONDAY EVE - N*l'4G THE SUN, LONDON, DEC El B R 16, 1861, ENGLAND AND AMERICA. Our contemporary the Paine is really great tit invention. The public are acquainted with the baseless character of soveral of the statements which it has made within the last few days. A telegram which we publish in another column Curnish some fresh instances of its inaccuracy. Is is quite untrue that England has " consulted the other great Powers" with reference to the 19utrage by the San Jacinto. It is, however, a fact! that France has volunteered her opinion that the{ act of the American captain constituted a violation of neutral rights. It is also untrue that " Lord Lyons will remit a second note to the C a bi ne t o f W as hi ng t on ," o r t i that any " new" instructions have been forwarded; ,ito him. His orders are imperative, and he will ofol 4course obey them to the letter.—Morn2ng Post. I i,,y the rebellion are not beyond the es of the loyal people, and to believe that the same patriotism which has ,thus far sustained the Govern men t, will continue to sus- Itain it till peace and union shall again bless the land, I re- Ispectfully refer to the report of the Secretary of War, for 'information respecting the numeri ca l s t reng th o f th e army , /and for recommendations, having in view an increase of its efficiency, and the well-being of the various branches of the service entrusted to his care. It is gratifying to knew that the patriotism of the people has proven equal to the occa sion, and that the number of troops tendered greatly ex ceeds the force which Congress authorised me to call into the field. I refer with pleasure to these portions of his report which make allusion to the creditable degree of discipline already attained by our troops, and to the excellent sanitary condition of the entire army. The recommendation of the Secretary for an organisation of the militia upon a uniform basis is a subject of vital importance to the future safety of the country, and is commended to the serious attention of Congress. The large addition to the regular army in con nection with the defection that has so considerably dimi nished the number of its officers gives peculiar importance to his recommendation for increasing the corps of cadets to the greatest capacity of the Military Academy. By mere omission, I presume, Congress has failed to provide chap lains for the hospitals occupied by the volunteers. " This subject was brought to my notice, and I was in duced to draw up the form of a letter, one copy of which properly addressed, has been delivered to each of the per sons, and at the dates respectively named and stated in a, schedule, containing also the form of the letter, marked A, and herewith transmitted. These gentlemen, I understand, entered upon the duties designated at the times respectively stated in the schedule, and have laboured faithfully therein ever since. I, therefore, recommend that they be compen sated at the same rate as chaplains in the army. "I further suggest that general provision be made for chaplains to serve at hospitals as well as with regiments. " The report of the Secretary of the Navy presents in detail the operations of that branch of the service, the lactivity and energy which have characterised the Adminis tration, and the results of measures to increase its efficiency and power. Such have been the additions, by construc tions and purchase, that it may almost be said a navy has been created and brought into service since our difficulties .ommenced. I "Besides blockading our extensive coast, squadrons !larger than ever before assembled under our flag have been i!iut afloat, and performed deeds which have increased our naval renown. I would inv/fte special attention to the cecommendation of the Secretary for a, mora perfect organisation of the navy by introducing additional grades in the service. The present organisation is defective and unsatisfactory, and the suggestions submitted by the De• partment will, it is believed, if adopted, obviate the diffi :eulties alluded to, and tend to promote harmony and in. lerease the efficiency of the navy. " There are three vacancies on the Bench of the Supreme Court—two by the decease of Justices Daniel and M`Lean, and one by the resignation of Justice Campbell. I have, so far, forborne making nominations to fill the vacancies for reasons which I will now state : Two of the outgoing Judges resided within the States now overrun by revolt. So that, if successors were appointed in the same localities they could not now serve upon their circuits, and many of the most competent men there probably would not take the personal hazard of accepting to serve even here upon the Supreme Bench. " I have been unwilling to throw all the appointments northward, thus disabling myself from doing justice to the South on the return of peace, although I may remark that to transfer to the North one which has heretofore been in the South, would not, with reference to territory and popu lation, be unjust. " During the long and brilliant judicial career of Judge M`Lean his circuit grew into an empire, altogether too large for any one judge to give the courts therein more than a nominal attendance, rising in population from 1,470,018 in 1839, to 6,151,405 in 1860. Besides this, the country generally has outgrown our present judicial system. " If uniformity was at all intended, the system requires that all the States shall be accommodated with circuit courts attended by supreme judges, while, in fact, Wis consin, Minnesota, lowa, Kansas, Florida, Texas, Califon. nia, and Oregon have never had any such courts. "Nor can this well be remedied without a change of the system, because the adding of judges to the supreme court enough for the accommodation of all parts of the country with supreme courts, would create a court altogether. too numerous for a judicial body of any sort, and the evil be one that will increase as new States come into the Union. " Circuit Courts are useful or they are not useful. If useful, no State should be denied them ; if not useful, no 'State should have them. Let them be provided for all or aholiehod au to all. " Three modifications occur to me, either of which I think would be an improvement upon our present system. Let the Supreme Court be of convenient number in every event. " Then, first, let the whole country be divided into cir cuits of convenient size, the supreme judges to serve in a number of them corresponding to their own number, and independent circuit judges be provided for all the rest. "Or, secondly, let the supreme judges be relieved from circuit duties, and circuit judges provided for all the cir cuits. " Or, thirdly, dispense with circuit courts altogether, leaving the judicial functions wholly to the district courts and an independent supreme court. " I respectfully recommend to the consideration of Con gress the present condition of the statute laws, with the hope that Congress will be able to find an easy remedy for many of the inconveniences and evils which constantly em barrasss those engaged in the practical administration of them. " Since the organisation of the Government Congress has enacted some 5,000 acts and joint resolutions, which fill more than 6,000 closely-printed pages, and are scattered through many volumes. Many of these acts have been drawn in haste, and without sufficient caution, so that their provisions are often obscure in themselves or in con flict with each other, or at least so doubtful as to render it very difficult for even the best informed persons to ascer tain precisely what the statute law really is. "It seems to me very important that the statute laws should be made as plain and intelligible as possible, and be reduced to as small a compass as may consist with the ful ness and precision of the will of the Legislature, and the perspicuity of its language. These, well done, would, I. think, greatly facilitate the labours of those whose duty it is to assist in the administration of the laws, and would be la lasting benefit to the people by placing before them in a more accessible and intelligible form the laws which so deeply concern their interests and their duties. I am in formed by some, whose opinions I respect, that all the acts of Congress now in force and of a permanent and general nature might be revised and rewritten so as to be embraced i n one volume, or, at least, two volumes of ordinary and convenient size, and I respectfully recommend to Congress to consider the subject, and, if my suggestion be approved, to devise such plan as to their wisdom shall seem most pro per for the attainment of the end proposed. " One of the unavoidable consequences of the present insurrection is the entire suppression in many places of all ordinary means of administering civil justice by the officers and in the forms of existing law. This is the case in whole or in part in all, the insurgent States, and as our armies ad vance upon and take possession of parts of those States the piratical evil becomes more apparent. There are no courts, nor officers to whom the citizens of other States may apply for the enforcement of their lawful claims against citizens of the insurgent States, and there is a vast amount of debt constituting such claims. Some have estimated it as high • two hundred million of dollars, due in large part from insurgents in open rebellion, to loyal citizens who are even now making great sacrifices in the discharge of their patriotic duty to support the Government. Under these circumstances I have been urgently solicited to establish by military power Courts to administer summary justice in such cases. I have thus far declined to do it, not because I had any doubt that the end proposed, the collection of the debts, was just and right in itself, but because I have been unwilling to go beyond the pressure of necessity in the un usual exercise of power. But the powers of Congress, I uppose, are equal to the anomalous occasion, and there ore I refer the whole matter to. Congress, with the hope that a plan may be devised for the administration of justice l in all such parts of the insurgent States and territories as may be under control of the Government, whether by a voluntary return to allegiance and order or by the power of our arms; this, however, not to be a permanent institu tion, but a temporary substitute, and to cease as soon as the ordinary courts can be re-established in peace. "It is important that some convenient means should be - Provided, if possible, for the adjustment of claims against the Government, especially in view of their increased num ber by reason of the war. It is as much the duty of Go vernment to render prompt justice against itself in favour of citizens as it is to administer the same between private individuals. "The investigation and adjudication of claims in their nature belong to the judicial department, besides it is ap parent that the attention of Congress will be more than usually engaged for some time to come with great national questions. " It was intended by the organisation of the Court of Claims mainly to remove this branch of business from the Halls of Congress ; but while the court has proved to be an effective and valuable means of investigation, it, in a great degree fails to effect the object of its creation for want of power to make its judgments final. " Fully aware of the delicacy, not to say the danger of the subject, I commend to your careful consideration whether this power of making judgment final may not pro perly be given to the court, reserving the right of appeal on questions of law to the Supreme Court, with such other provisions as experience may have shown to be necessary. " I ask attention to the report of the Postmaster• General, in, Is till but of ti of ti that troll, teat it ei mat, Of Vise act ap pl Boll! b ee( are