The Sun. — London, England, 1856-01-17 00:00:00

ri E SU 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. CHERTSEY MEETING. LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAIL WAY.—On FRIDAY (to-morrow), 18th January, 1856, a Special Express Train will leave Waterloo Station for Chertsey at 11.10 a.m., returning from Chertsey at 6 p.m. Fares, there and back—First class, 6s. 4d.; Second class, 4s. 6d. By order. Waterloo-bridge Station, Jan. 17, 1856. COMPLETION OF LIEUT. BURTON'S NARRATIVE OF ills PILGRIMAGE TO MEDINAH AND MECCAH. Just published, in Bvo., with Plan, Woodcuts, and 6 coloured Illustrations, price 15s. cloth, PERSONAL NARRATIVE of a PILGRIMAGE to EL-MEDINAII and MECCAU. Vol. 111. comprising Ilitaccart. EJ XICHARD F. BURTON, Lieutenant, Bombay Army. ',O. Vols. I. and H., EL-Misz and EL-MEDINAH, 268., may still be had. London : Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. Le3see. Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, THE GREAT GUN TRICK. After which, HET DIDDLE DIDDLE; or, Elariequin King Nonsense and the seven Ages of Man. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Under the Management of Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, THE LITTLE TREASURE. After which the New Comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE BUTTERFLY'S BALL AND TIIF: GRASSHOPPER'S FEAST ; or, Harlequin and the Genius of the Sprint. To cowhide with ONLY A HALFPENNY. ROYAL PRINCE•43'3 THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. Cnizt.in SEAN, TO-MORROW EVENING, KING HENRY THE EIGHTH. Queen Katharine, Mrs. C. Kean; Cardinal Wolsey, Mrs. C. Kean. After which, HARLEQUIN AND THE MAID AND THE MAGPIE ; or, the Fairy Paradisa and Hanky Panky, the Enchanter. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Hal ine ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; and Columbine, Miss Caroline Adams. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHT. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeete. THIS EVENING. DOMESTIC ECONOMY. After which, URGENT' PRIVATE AFFAIR 3. To conclude with ANn BE kN STALK ; or, .11arlequin and Mother Goole at Home Again. Tn which NTeisn. Bland, P. Redford, Madame Celeste, Miss Wyndham, and Miss E. Arden will ap,ear. ROYU. SURREY THEATRE. Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick. THIS EVENING PARIS IN 1792. To conclude with A PRIVCr Or P Z.kit ; or, Harlciuin and lane Shorn ttOYAL r3TRAND Under the direction of Mr. Payne. Tlll3 EVENING, THE HOLLY TREE INN. To conclude with I.ItI;EQUIN BLACK-EYED SUE; or, All to the Downi and Davy Jones's Locker. OLYMPIC THEITRE. Lessee and Mana, , ,er, Mr. Alfre4 Wigan. TM'S EVENING. TO OBLIGE BENS3N, in which Messrs. Emery, F. Robson, Leslie, and Miss F. Tatman will appear. To be followed by TIIE NEWT GIRL. After which will he produced a New and d63nhly-moral, thlugh excessively old, Melodramatic Fairy Extravaganza, eatitled TILE DISCREET PRINCESS; o - , the Three Glass Distaffi. In which Messrs. Emery, F. Robson, IL. Cooper, Mine Marstoi, ant Miss Maskell will appear. ASTLEY'S ROYAL A.MPFIITHEATRE. Leoaee and Manager, Mr. Win. Cooke. The Greatest Wonder of the Day Is the Equestrian Comic Panto mime. The Last Morning Performance will be on Saturday, Jan. 19th. THIS EVENING, The Romantic Equidrame called ROOK WOOD; or, TURPIN'S RIDE to YORK. After which the EQUESTRI.AN EXERCNES In the ARENA, the Invention of Mr. W. Cooke, including Master George Cooke. the little Cherub, on hie playful pony; also, Mizs Kate Cooke on her milk white Ara) steed. To conclude with a Granel Equestrian Comic Pantomime, called HARLEQUIN AND ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON, or the Seven Champions •f Christendom. it")-ottlce open trom Eleven till Fonr. Stage Ma.na;er, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director. W. Cooke. Inn. HIGFI WATER. AT LONDON BRIDGE. TRIG DAY—Morn. 28 min. aft. o—Evening 5 min. aft. 10 Tn-AoßßOcv—lforn. 42 miu. aft.lo —gvening 23 min. ait.ll THE WEATHER-SUN OFFICE, JAN. 17. THERIIOHETER, IN THE SHADE. si highest sines noon yesterday. 45 —lowest this morning and during the night. 48 —this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29.67. WIND, S.W.—Rather fresh, with dull, muggy weather. t., ) .4 o! r," - 1 ittv ; L - §4'8'44 1 _ LONDON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1356. " Russia has unconditionally accepted the Pro positions of the Allies !" This is the statement of the Vienna correspondent of the Times, usually well informed on all matters relating to diplomatic intrigues of the Cabinets of the different States of Germany and St. Petersburg. It is by no means impossible that such should be the case, but it by no means follows that the negotiations or con ferences that may be opened in consequence thereof can be brought to a satisfactory conclusion, or that they will produce an honourable and durable peace. The acceptance of the " Four Points," explained by the Memorandum of the 28th De cember, 1854, was equally distinct and unequi vocal, or, as the Austrian diplomatists term it, " pure and simple," and yet the spirit of the Third, and far the most important stipula tion, was totally and entirely repudiated by Russia at the subsequent conferences. In the Memorandum of the 28th December, 1854, above referred to, it was expressly stated that " the re vision of the Treaty of July 13, 1841, must have for its object to connect the exist ence of the Ottoman Empire more com pletely with the European equilibrium, and to put an end to the preponderance of Russia in, the Mack Sea. There were thus two distinct and separate phases of the stipulation, and both were evaded or repudiated by Russia when the time arrived for carrying them into practical execu tion. Under the first head, Prince aORTSCITA- Ron, took especial pales to show that Russia would net join in any "active guarantee of the independence of the Ottoman Empire." He ex pressly refused an engagement to render any violation of its independents() or invasion of its terrain . ) , a easus b e at, and insisted on the insertion in the protocol of his explana tory observation. This " restrictive inter pretation " was received with deep regret, not only by the representatives of the Western Powers, but even by the Austria n Mi n i s t ry , proving as it did that Russia wa s not in earnest in ita professed intention of bringing the ottoman Empire under the protection of the general European law. The notion that the blood of Russian soldiers belonged solely to Russia, and could not be endangered in any cause where Rus sia herself was not primarily interested, was too ridiculous to impose on any save the wilfully blind. She has not, on any occasion, proved her self chary of the lives of those enlisted under forced levies, or so strongly opposed to warlike proceedings, wherever her interests were engaged, as to lend even a specious or plausible appearance to the pretext. The conclusion was, therefore, irresistible, that the refusal was occasioned by soma latent sinister deigns on the part a Russia; and it was, at all events, in direct opposition to the first part of the Third Point or condition which Russia had pledged itself to accept. But the contemptuous disregard of the remain ing portion of the article was still more flagrant. So far from agreeing to put an end to Russian preponderance in the Euxine, it was gravely argued. that Turkey had even more to fear from the maritime forces of France and England, and that a powerful Russian fleet in the Euxine was indispensable to its security. The principle of " counterpoise" was attempted to be introduced as an element in the calculation ; and any limita tion of Muscovite power, or of the standing menaces which she sought to keep hanging over the head of the Porte, was disdainfully repu diated. There can be but little doubt that the pro tracted resistance offered by Sebastopol, and the deplorable condition of the besieging army, led to this shameless repudiation of the tetras which bad previously been accepted without modification or qualification of any kind. What assurance, then, can we feel that Russia is disposed to exhibit better faith on the present occasion ? The terms and stipulations forwarded by Austria, through Count VALENTINE ESTE/MAZY, are far more vague, and offer greater loopholes for slipping out than those contained in the articles of the 2d of December, 1854, or the explana tory Memorandum of the 28th of the same month ; and from the mode in which the former were treated we may form a fair esti mate of the manner in which the latter will be dealt with when it suits the purposes of Russia to cast aside the mask. We have repeatedly de clared that the great danger to be apprehended under existing circumstances was the renewal of negotiations that could not possibly terminate satis factorily. Russia is well aware of the advantages which she can derive from delay and procrastina tion, whereby the action and energies of the Allies nay be paralysed, while she herself proceeds with the utmost activity in all her preparations for a desperate struggle—" a war to the knife," in which she will stake her all upon the cast. What is she now doing in Asia ? Notwith standing the inclemency of the weather she has pushed on her troops, which have so recently obtained possession of poor neglected Kars, through the midst of the snow to the vici nity of Erzeroum, of which they are now within a few hours' march. Could she get rid of the tardy vigilance exhibited—could she hope to paralyse the activity too late displayed, by rendering Ambassadorial jealousies subservient to her own designs, she might have greater terri torial acquisitions to offer in exchange for the strong places and territories occupied ~ by the Allies. Erzeroum would unquestionably be re garded by Russia as a very important make weight, something that might render " the equi valent" offered for Sebastopol—Eupatoria, Kertch, and Kinbourn—in some degree more reasonable than it can now be considered, while its capture would go far to restore the prestige, already seri ously damaged, with the Asiatic Powers. She would, in fact, derive immense advantages from the partial suspension of warlike operations, and the indisposition of the Western Powers to incur heavy expenses in making the neces sary preparations for the vigorous maiatenance of a war which they believed likely to be speedily brought to a conclusion, while she can break off the negotiations whenever it suits her to do so. Without referring, then, to the inadequacy of terms which make no provision for the expenses of the War and afford no adequate security for the future good conduct of Russia, we must not , again suffer ourselves to be bamboozled or be trayed. Wo have suffered too much already from the consequences of a similar mistake. Russia has proved herself to be most formidable when she is assuming the appearance of modera tion ; more obstinately bent on war whe❑ she professes an anxious desire for peace. The bitter but salutary lessons of past experience should not be disregarded. We should more than ever exert ourselves to neutralise the advantages which she hopes to obtain by duplicity and insin cerity. There is another point that should not be for gotten. If there be the slightest foundation for the grave charges already preferred against Lord STRATFORD, alluded to in our impression of yes terday, the Noble Lord should at once be re called, preparatory to the stringent inquiry that must be instituted. The British Ambassador at Constantinople, during a crisis like the present, should be far above the possibility of doubt or suspicion, and the rumours to which we referred have assumed a verisimilitude that will not per mit their being slighted or disregarded. Enor mous injuries nay be occasioned to British in terests before the pending investigation can be brought to a conclusion. While even Russia leans to the extension of personal liberty, the United States are vigorously extending slavery. The CZARS have several times wished, and more than wished, to emancipate the serfs ; and the present CZAR is actually abolishing the Robot service in Poland. American Presi dents of late, on the contrary, have not only been slave-breeders—not only put the fetters literally on their own offspring, and probably fingered the gold they sold for, but have been the thick-and thin advocates of the "social institution" of slavery. It is impossible for a fre• Englishman —the word " free" is, however, but an expletive, for what Englishman is not personally free—to read the latter portion of President PIERCE'S Mes sage without pain. We are indeed annoyed with the sort of youthful and ill-bred swagger of some earlier parts. When we read the affectedly dig nified phrases about Central America and the Oregon boundary, the stuff about demanding " reparation" from Great Britain for letting emi grants to America know that soldiers were wanted to fight for a higher object than extending slave territory, and all the big talk about having the best of it in every little dispute with Greece or France, Denmark or Spain, we smile at the taste of the ephemeral monarch of the Great Republic, and excuse the want of re finement in the nation of a dollar aristocracy, and in a ruler who never has time to serve a fair apprenticeship to the proprieties of his station. As we have already remarked we have sometimes complained of the dry formality and vagueness of our own Royal Speeches, bnt we have never had to blush for anything in them offensive to those higher perceptions which distinguish the gentle man from the upstart. I But it is the lung latter part of thi s long M 03- sage which is something more than annoying. More than two of our long columns of small print were occupied yesterday with its elaborate defence of the most infernal moral nuisance that pesters the earth. In one san°® we are glad to sea this. The earnest defence of wickedness, or of political iniquity by its official beneficiaries, is generally omi nous o f it s fall. It was ' se with West India alavery . here, with Catholic emancipation, with the Corn Laws and Free Trade ; indeed with everything good we have got for the last forty years. Established abominations ntalio no stir till danger menaces. We May be sure, then, that President Pinaor, does not play THE SUN LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 17, 1856, the part of Devil's Advocate without a cause. The cause is, indeed, apparent, beneath the gene ral phrases under which he strives to hide his client's nakedness. The slavery men are mad dened with the last of power, they have had it all their own way of late, they have forbidden peti tions to Congress, have abolished the line which secured freedom to dwellers northwards of it, have enacted the atrocious fugitive slave law, converting the northern states into kidnap pers for the southern ; and now they find that roguery does not run on a railroad. In some of the Northern States the old ruts of liberty are ' very deep, and the new doctrine of " domestic in stitutions" is almostshaken to pieces in them. Kid nappers who come from the south to swear back to the lash a refugee for freedom get sometimes hustled, their prey is helped off to Canada, and the human bloodhounds are fain to jump into a southern train, with their hats pulled over their eyes, as fast as possible. The Lynching for freedom is very irregular, no doubt, but Lynching was learned from the slave states, and for ourselves we should think it for the credit of the Northern States ir the kidnapper could not be safe though surrounded by a regi ment of bayonets. President PIEROS is, however, very indignant that " old states," who aided in founding the Union, should " resist" the wicked ness of the Union, and he reads then a long homily on " the Constitution.' That, too, is a good sign. We always know, for instance, that when Lord JOHN RUSSELL, as Lord ELDON used to do, appeals to the "Constitution," that he has nothing better to appeal to, and that the matter looks badly on its merits. President PIERCE doubtless feels that, though a President of Whites, he cannot justify the realities of negro slavery. Then, again, the territories of Nebraska and Kansas are becoming the scene of an almost inter necine abolition and slavery quarrel. Kansas is yet a territory, but will soon become a state. Till lately it was north of the line between slave and free soil ; now it is left to the settlers to make it a free or a slave state of it as they please. Hence freemen and slaveholders are rushing into it for numerical victory. Each party has elected its own governor, and by the last accounts seemed not unlikely to shed blood in the quarrel. It is not wonderful, therefore, that the PRESIDENT should be anxious t• get out his Message. lie had not only to rake up a little political capital for the approaching Presidential election out of his bluster about England and the rest of the Old World ; he had a serious domestic feud of his own nursing to allay. It is not our purpose to weary English readers with refutations of President PIERCE'S sophistry. Sincere Republican honest Christians, and all our countrymen, with the exception of a cotton-spinner or two, have a short argument, and one which we are happy to know decides the course of thou sands in the United States themselves, and that is, that Slavery—and American Slavery a fortiori is immoral—as immoral as theft, adultery, or murder. This living conviction President PIERCE cannot banish by such phrases in an official docu ment as " fanaticism, phreizy, angry, aimless, idle disturbance," or by appeala to " the Rock of the Constitution," and to the " ALmroarY's favour !!" (No wonder QUANHEE identifies Hint with SATAN as the white man's Gots.) Truth and morality may be long smothered ander bales of cotton, and the rights of millions may be long scoffed at by venal politicians, but we are not in fidels, and we believe that Christianity will van quish American Presidents and the Slaveholders to whom they sell its principles for—under such circumstances—the ignominy of place. The d2y will come when the good taste of America will blush for the first half of this Message, and when the second will appear incredible to her humanity and religion. LATEST NEWS. feel secure in their present position. Skender Pasha is in command of the rear-guard, and great confidence is placed in his 'vigilance and military skill. RUSSIA. ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 6.—The Russian Govern ment continues to devote minute attention to the military organisation of the Baltic provinces, so as to be prepared for all eventualities in that quarter. General Schultz, who had a command in Sebasto pol, and was subsequently second Commander in Nicolaieff, has been nominated Commander in Dunamunde ; General Nordenstrang has been at tached to the Command-in-Chief in Finland ; and Colonel Furuhjelm, formerly Adjutant to General Bodisco in Bomarsund, has been sent into Finland. as Governor of one of the districts there, for the pur pose of completing the military organisation of the population. Prince Menschikoff is still detained in St. Petersburg by indisposition. A great num ber of appointments, distributions of troops, &;c., took place while General Siewers was still in St. Petersburg; he has now left for Mitau. The Neva batteries are to be strengthened and lengthened on both flanks, and the result of thi s an d o f a var i e t y of othe r military arrangements in and about the capital is to produce an agitation of feeling among the people, as though the enemy were just about to appear before the town. The following changes will shortly be officially announced : "Prince Bebutoff will take, provisionally, the chief command of the army in the Caucasus, and of the Transcaucasian expeditionary army. "Aide-de-Camp General Mouravieff will be ap pointed to the chief command of the army in the Crimea and in Tauris. " Aide-de-Camp General Prince Gortschakoff will be placed at the head of the army of the South, and will have his head-quarters at Kischeneff. "General Siewers will have the command of the army in Bessarabia. "General Osten-Sacken will remain at Nicolaieff and Cherson. " Aide-de-Camp General Paniutin will have his head-quarters at Zitomir." ITALY. A day or two since mention was made of a cir cular letter addressed to the Archbishop (Patri arch) of Venice to all printers, booksellers, and Tenders of prints residing within his diocese, a translation of it will now be given, as it is a still more important document than that recently pub lished by the Archbishop of Milan : " PIETRO AURELIO MATTI, BY THE MERCY OF GOD PATRIARCH OF VENIEE, &C., TO OUR BELOVED SONS, THE BOOKSELLERS, PUBLISHERS, AND TRUE BELIEVERS RESIDING IN OUR CITY AND DIOCESS. " Innumerable are the complaints which, for a long time past, have been made to us by laymen and eccle siastics of all ranks of the countless works which are published to the detriment of religion and morality ; and, in truth, the harm which they do to society at large and to each single family cannot be sufficiently deplored. Such works neutralize all the care of good parents and tutors. " When the youth of the country first snake their en trance into the world they meet at every step with bad, loose, immoral books, which, like lurking serpents, are prepared to inject their venom into their innocent minds. But at length God, who directs the hearts of Kings, in spired (ispiro) our most pious Monarch with the idea of the Concordat, the object of which is to protect all be lievers, and particularly the Catholic youth, against the attacks of the impious, and the dangers of temptation. " Already have we frequently reminded our beloved sons in Christ of the holy lass s of the Church, and have warned them against books which are dangerous to re ligion and morality, at the same time making known to them the very strict regulations of the! Council of Trent on the subject, but now it is our special duty to see that those regulations are observed. The Concordat gives to all Archbishops and Bishops the full power and right to use their own authority in this matter, and also promises that the Government will employ the most efficacious means for preventing the spread of the plague of bad books throughout the Empire. Although all ecclesiastical ordinances relative to this matter are in full force, we will at present do no more than mention some few of the conditions of the same, and more par ticularly those which must be literally and punctually obeyed. "No one, be he priest or layman, will be allowed, without previously obtaining permission from our eccle siastical `censure,' to publish—either as author, printer, or yender—any work, either directly or indirectly, touch ing on religion or morality, or specially treating of the Liturgy, or of any other subject. "It is also forbidden to introduce any book whatever from other countries without having applied for and ob tained the approbation of the ecclesiastical `Censure office,' excepting in casas where the book has been marked as being among the works which are permitted. " Should any person dare publicly or privately to sell books, prints, or naintins which are p ro hibit e d b y t h e Church, or could be prejudicial to religion or morality, he it known unto him, that we will not only suppress such illicit sale ourselves, but will also call in the arm of the civil power, which the Monarch has placed at the dis posal of the Church, to our assistance. _ _ "Most beloved eons, as you well know that we have no other object in view than the welfare of your immortal souls, and your eternal salvation, we reckon on your strict obedience, and so doing we wish you all health and happiness in the Lord. " ()riven in the Archiepiscopal Curia, at Venice, De. cenaber 31st, 1855. " P. AURELIO MATTI, Patriarch. "G. Giov. GREGA, Chancellor." A letter from Berlin in the Dusseldoi f Gazette says :—" It is not true that representations have been made by the Western Powers to our Govern ment, in consequence of the presence of Prussian officers at the Te Deum sung at the Russian em bassy in honour of the fall of Kars. But it is true that the Prussian Government has stigmatised the conduct of these officers as improper in taking part in a political manifestation contrary to their duty as military men. This has been signified in an order of the day from General Wrangel." THE PENINSULAR MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY MORNING. By the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam ship Madrid, with the Peninsular mails, wo have dates from Gibraltar, Jan. 7th ; Cadiz, 10th ; Lis bon, 12th ; Oporto, 13th; Vigo, 14th. The Madrid brings 40 passengers, and on freight specie of the value of 4,5471., and the usual cargo. The late arrival of the Madrid has been caused by heavy weather and her detention at Cadiz for coals. The Madrid spoke the Peninsulur and Oriental Company's steam-ship Pera, with the India and Mediterranean mails, off Belen, on the 12th inst., waiting for pratique. The Pera's machinery had received damage from heavy weather. The Bosphorus was also at anchor, with her steam up, having called at Lisbon for coals en, route to Constantinople. The steam-transport Imperador, with troops for the East, was spoken by the Minto steam-ship on the 9th inst., off the Rock of Lisbon, the latter vessel having put into the Tagus. An immense quantity of rain had fallen at Lis bon and done considerable damage. Some of the works under construction for the Ciatra Railway were destroyed by the heavy gales and seas. There was no alteration in the Lisbon exchanges. Bills at three months on London were still quoted at 54i. The Cortes was to resume its sittings on the 10th inst. From Oporto we learn that business in freights was at a stand still, owing to the river Douro being flooded by the late rains. Transactions had been irregular, the quotations varying from 541 to 55i for bills on London, at 90 days. Wine shipments were slack. The dates from Gibraltar are to the 7th inst. The Spanish schooner Diligente, in ballast, for Mazagan was capsized at the entrance of the Straits on the morning of the 4th. The crew were picked up by the British brig Falcon. The steam-transport Ripon left Gibraltar for Spithead on the 7th inst. The following casualties had been reported at Gibraltar :--The Sardinian brig Nuovo Speranza Indio, which left for Cassabianca on the Ist inst., was driven ashore during the night. The brig Vencedor ' belonging to Gibraltar, and. the French schooner Sole, had been compelled to put back from heavy weather. The British schooner Tyro, from the coast of Morocco, having parted with three anchors, put into Gibraltar on the 7th inst. The Madrid lost an anchor in Cadiz bay- Exchange on Gibraltar for bills on London at 90 days was quoted at 51 3-16 tbs. Our facetious contemporary, " Punch," is in high lea ther this week—sparkling with wit and humour, and studded with comic illustrations. So lively and audacious is he that, not content with putting an extinguisher on poor infatuated Mr. Cobden, having a rap at the Duke of Argyll and King Cliquot, be heads (ironically—.,:ed•- i'usti) a notice of a recent leader iu the Sun on the treatment of poor Haydn, 'who, for his important contribution to literature--the "Dictionary of Dates"—lias been re warded by her Majesty with a pension, no less, of 4, 1 2 d. per day, "An attack upon the Crown!" It is too bad of him. Why, so little quarrelsome are we, that we are not disposed to take exception to his assur ance that we may "as well hop e t o t ouc h, M emnon • like, the statue of Queen Anne into morning music, as to awaken generous impulses in the House of Hanover towards art, or science, or letters." In point of fact we will take his word for it. So let's shake hands, forget and forgive. A letter from Parma says that the Count and Countess of Chambord bad arrived there on the tith on a visit to their august sister, with whom they will pass a few d4yr. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, WIDNESDAY. The following arrived yesterday afternoon, on a ♦isit to her Majesty :—Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess and Princess Mary of Cambridge (attended by Major Purves), his Highness th• Maharajah Duleep Singh (at tended by Sir John Login), the Marquis of Abercora and Lady Louisa Hamilton, Lord Ashburton, and Lieut.- Colonel Chapman, of the Royal Engineers, lately serv ing is the Crimea. In addition to the foregoing, the dinner party included her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, his Royal Highness the Count of Flanders Lady Fanny H o war d , Baroness de Speth, Col o n e l M'Murdo, and Captain Bur nelle. The band of the 2d Life Guards played during dinner. The Queen's private band afterwards performed in the Castle. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by the Count of Flanders, and the Maharajah Duleep Singh, went out shooting this morning. The Marquis of Abercorn and Lieut.-Colonel Chapman also accom panied the Prince. Colonel M'Murao left the Castle in the forenoon , The Rev. Peter Latrobe had an interview with Mr. Secretary Labouchere on Tuesday in the Colonial•office. A. deputation from the city of Bristol had an interview with the Right Hon. E. P. Bouverie yesterday, at the office of tke Poor-law Board, in Whitehall, on the sub ject of providing a pauper lunatic asylum for the city. The deputation was introduced by Mr. Langton and Mr. Berkeley, the members for Bristol, and consisted of Mr. W. Herapath, Mr. Goss, Mr. Leonard, Dr. Rogers, Mr. Protheroe, Mr. Langdon, Mr. Taplin, Mr. Rey nolds, Mr.Whitwell, Mr. Ilyde, Mr. Naish, Mr. Lawes, Dr. Green, Mr. Greville, Mr. Mason, Mr. J. L. Green, Mr. Robinson, Mr. T. James, and Mr. Jacques. A deputation from the Riebridge Union had an in terview with the Right Hon. E. P. Bouverie, at the ffice of the Poor Law Board, on the subject of work house accommodation for the union. The deputation consisted of the Rev. W. Mayd, Mr. H. W. Jackson, and Mr. D. Garteen, and Mr. W. Borebam. Despatches for the Governors of the West Indiq cole nice, and also for the Governor of Gibraltar, were sent last evening from the Colonial Office. Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston returned to town, yesterday; from Broadlands, Hants. Lady Brougham has areved in Grafton•street from Dover. The Right Hon. H. Fitzroy, M.P., arrived in London on Monday, from Paris, and yesterday left town for Lewes. The marriage of Sir Robert Peel, Bart., with the Lady Emily Hay, took place to-day, at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary left Kew yesterday for Windsor Castle, on a visit to her Majesty. The Marquis of Lansdowne arrived in town yoster day morning, for the purpose of attending the Cabinet Council held at the Foreign-office. The Earl and Countess of Munster arrived in town last evening from a ur of visits in Scotland. The noble Earl and Countess fere detained some hours at Peter borough, owing to an accident on the Great Northern Railway. The Earl and Countess of Derby and Lady Emma Stanley leave Knowsley next week for Bretby Park, on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Chesterfield, after which the noble Eail and Countess come to town for the meeting of Parliament. The noble Earl has issued cards for a grand banquet to a large party of his politi cal friends, on the 30th inst. THE EARL OF HADDINOFON.—It gives us great plea sure to state that this noble peer is recovering from the effects of his recent accident. LOAD ADOLPHUS FITZCLARENCE.—We regret to learn the noble and gallant lord remains in much the same state, but within the last two days he has been able to take nourishment. Hopes are, however, still entertained that his lordship will be able to surmount his serious ill ness. His lordship had a restless night on Tuesday, and the medical bulletin yesterday was as follows :—" Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence continues in as favourable a state as yesterday. Jan. 16, 1856." The inquiries of the nobility continue very numerous. DEATH OF THE COUNTES4 DOWAGIES OF ERROLL.-- We regret to announce the death of the Countess Dowager of Erroll, daughter of the late King William IV. and Mrs. Jordan. The melancholy event took place at 5 minutes to 11 o'clock yesterday fo renoon , a t Edinburgh, being a t the time her ladyship was on her way south to hasten to the sick bed of her brother, Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence. Queen Maria Christina is about to marry her second daughter to Prince del Drago, the heir to a considerable fortune. It is this princess who was on the point of espousing Prince Corsioi, son of Count de Casigliano, Tuscan Mi n i ster of Foreign Affairs, but the prince died while the preparations were going on. The Tride Novarese announces that King Victor Emmanuel will shortly visit Novara, to present colours to the Anglo-Italiu Logien. FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF FRANCE. The Moniteur of yesterday contains an impor tant paper—the report of the Minister, M. Magne, on the general financial situation of the empire. The assurance, not a superfluity, with which the report concludes, will be read with general satisfac tion. The following is M. Magne's report : REPORT TO THE EMPEROR. "Sire,—We have now reached that period of the year at which the Minister of Finance is in the habit of rendering an account to the Emperor of the general state of the finances. " The exceptional circumstances, of a nature to in fluence the public receipts and expenses, and the opera tions of the Treasury during the years 1854 and 1855, render the duty I am about to perform peculiarly stringent. " Your Majesty will see with satisfaction, that al though within the last two years the cholera, the crisis in alimentary articles of consumption, and the war, have imposed great sacrifices on the State, we can at least demonstrate that the sources of public wealth are far from having been diminished, and that, particularly in 1855, commerce and industry have attained a degree of development such as no one could have ventured to fore see, even at the most prosperous periods. " Service of 1854.—1 n my last report I had the ho nour of acquainting the Emperor with the principal causes which, apart from the extraordinary requirements of the war and the navy, have loaded the budget of 1854 with supplementary credits amounting to 120 millions. "The general" statement of the finances, published in the month of May last, exhibited the provisional state of that financial period with a probable excess of expen diture of nearly 100 millions. Since then this result has become less to a sensible extent. I can now an nounce with certainty to your Majesty that the deficit of 1854 will not reach 70 millions. I ought even to add that if the budget had not supplied, in order to complete the sums set apart for great public works, over and above the special resources destined for them, a supp'emelit that has risen as high as 72 millions, the definitive ba lance between the receipts and the ordinary expenses would show an excess of revenue. " Service of 1855.—The estimates for the budget of 1855 have been affected by unforeseen circumstances. "The assistance given to the communes, the arrears •a the last two loans, the discounts on prepayments, the necessity of reconstructing the rules and regulation,' of the tobacco factories on wider bases, so as to make the working correspond better with the increase of con sumption, the increase of premiums on exports resulting from the activity of our industry, the expenses attending the Universal Exhibition, the impulse given to public works, are all of them so many accidental causes, induc ing the opening of numerous credits, and imposing on the budget a supplementary charge of 120 millions. " This sum appears to be a considerable one ; but I beg the Emperor to be so good as to remark that a part —that of the premiums, amounting to seventeen mil lions—is merely the giving back of duties levied ; that another part, that of tobacco and snuff, exceeding 15 millions, is not a real expense, but a mere transfor mation of stock ; and, lastly, that the great public works have taken 52 millions from the ordinary revenue. " We cannot consider such an advance imposed on the present for the benefit of the future to be an outlay lost to the state. On the contrary, it is certain that it forms the most useful, the most profitable of all investments. The experience of the last 20 years proves in the most incontestable manner that the funds devoted to the com pletion of roads, to the perfecting of navigable routes, to harbour works, and to the development of railroads, are productive in the highest degree, since by stimulat ing and facilitating trade and industry, they invariably lead to a corresponding increase in the revenue of the public treasury. "At no period, Sire, have great works of general utility received so powerful an impulse as during the four years just elapsed ; nor at any period bas the in crease of the indirect taxes been so rapid, and under this last-mentioned item no year can vie with 1855. "The most signal proof of this is furnished by the tables which the Monitcur has just published. To appre ciate accurately the value of this document, it is proper not to confound the duties levied by virtue of old tariffs with the new duties resulting from the laws voted at the last legislative session. ' " The new duties have yielded 33 millions. "The old tariffs, having been equally in force during the two years 1854 and 1855, furnish alone elements capable of bearing a comparison. In doing so, we find in favour of 1855 an enormous increase of more than 70 millions, which raises to 917 millions the total yield of the old duties, and proves that, thanks to the confidence inspired by your Majesty, not merely has the ground lost in 1848 been recovered, but that the year 184t!itself, the most remarkable under the preceding Government, is already surpassed by nearly 100 millions. "The astonishing result of the national activity is not the sole distinctive mark of the year just closed. " The direct contributiens, owing to the increased number of persons requiring licences, have given a surplus of 4,000,000. The facility of recovering debts has made freeb progress. The sums received 'be the 31st of December exceeded by ' , early 18,000,000 the amount of the instalments legally due, and the costs of law proceedings bad undergone a new and marked reduc tion. "The timber possessed by the state has been sold on terms wholly unexpected. The quantities felled, ♦alued at 21,800,400 f. in the budget of 1855, have produced 30,000,000. "All these augmentations, and some probable dimi- ' nutiou of credit, will, according to all reasonable cal culations, bring up the increased expenditure of 1855, notwithstanding the 160 millions of supplementary allocations of which I have spoken, to a total of about 56 millions. This sum, considering the extraordinary exigencies for which we have been compelled to pro vide, will appear highly satisfactory, especially when we reflect that it is far inferior to the amount assigned to extraordinary works and the tobacco reserves, and that i❑ this point of view it cannot be regarded as consti tuting, in the proper sense of the term, a deficit. Your Majesty, in reference to this point, will permit me to re mark that, generally speaking, for some years past, the budgets would have been so managed as to show an exact balance if, as was formerly the case, the sums ex pended on extraordinary works had been entirely covered by special sources of revenue so distributed as to weigh both on the present and on the future. " Service of 1856.—The budget of 1856, being only at its outset, it is impossible to term a precise estimate as to its probable results. But the greater portion of louse causes which in 1855 rendered supplemental credit necessary, are not in their nature likely to recur, and we may reasonably expect, therefore, to find the facts turn out much more in accordance with our estimates. "Service of 1857.—The budget of 1857, which is at this moment under consideration by the Council of State, shows an excess of receipts over the expenditure to the extent of 15 millions. In order to bestow upon this investigation, in accordance with the Emperor's intentions, the highest possible character of sincerity, and diminish as far as possible all chances of a mistake in the estimates, certain changes have been introduced in the bases of the calculation. "On the one hand, in estimating the expenditure, greater regard has been had to the experience of pre ceding years. I will mention the bounties on exporta tion, the estimate of which I have augmented by 12 millions, it having hitherto been always insufficient. " With regard to receipts, contrary to the mode gene rally adopted of late years, they have been calculated on the footing of results actually obtained, and of the estimates of 1856, without regard to the possibilities of ulterior augmentation. This augmentation, which is all but certain, is left as a reserve to meet the supplemen tary expenditures which acts of hostile force might occa sion. Not to discount the future, and to keep eventual receipts as a reserve to cover unforeseen expenditures, appears to me the most efficacious method that can be adopted, with a ♦iew to arriving at a well-considered balance. • " Treasury—l cannot speak of the situation of the Treasury without directing for a moment your Majesty's attention to the product of the loans, and to the extra ordinary expenses to which it is liable. " The loan of 250 millions has been completely paid up. " On the Ist of January last 476 millions were realised of the loan of 500 millions. " At the same period, on the 780 millions, the amount of the last loan and the supplement, we had received 394 millions—that is to say : " For the dime and the expired terms which ha►e been paid up in full, 234 millions. " For the anticipations, 160 millions ; total, 1 milliard 120 millions. " The expenses charged on the loans amounted on the 31st December, for the two years 1854 and 1855, to nearly a milliard. "The excess of resources reali s ed over payments effected is thus at this moment about 120 millions. " This surplus, added to the 415 millions which have yet to be received upon the two preceding loans, presents a total sum of 535 millions disposable for the extraordinary requirements of the war in 1856. It is true that some of the expenses incurred during the year just closed have yet to be discharged ; but it will be pre cisely the same with the expenses incurred dining 1856, a part of which must be carried over for liquidation in 1857. " By the anticipation of receipts before expenses, the Treasury have been enabled most advantageously to the country to postpone, to the latest period, the raising of the interest of the bonds, and to support without embar rassment the advances made out of the funds of the de pots and consignations, to the funds of the dotation of the army. " The floating debt, properly so called, is reduced to 652 millions—i. e., to 121 millions below the total of last year, and the Treasury Bonds have fallen to 168 millions • " This position of affairs, which has been so favour able to economy in the ordinary resources of the Trea sury, has the incontestable advantage of leaving thereto a large margin for its ulterior requirements. " Upon the whole, sire, this simple sketch of the prin. cipal financial events of the past year reveals an un rivalled commercial activity; a progress unheard•of in consumption; two or-ormolu loans paid with the great est regularity, and in a great part before they fell due ; apart from the loans, more than 135 millions, an amount never yet witnessed, employed irk the purchase of renter on account of the departments ; the direct contributions paid in advance, and almost without expense ; a budget properly balanced ; the floating debt reduced ; and all these despite the war, the food crisis, and the heavy ex penses which accidental circumstances have imposed upon us. " What grander proof can be afforded of the vitality and wealth of our country----of all, indeed, to which France may aspire under a popular Government, and with her vast resources wisely administered ? The only danger that could be feared under these circumstances ill MOO. Bat your Majesty will k n ow how to wipe , this danger by your august prud ence , i n fi rm l y res isting the wild impulses of speculation, and in postponing, in the interest of the great natters now in hand, all under takings which do not bear the stamp of evident urgency. —I am, &c., " P. MAGNE. THE DIPLOMATISTS AT ST. PETERS- BURG. A letter from St. Petersburg, of the 6th, in the Constitatiomnel, says :—" We know pretty well here at present what has occurred relative to Count d'Esterhazy's mission. His first visit to Count de Nesselrode was without result, and his audience with the Emperor was exceedingly cold. The Ans. trian envoy also paid a visit to M. Leon Senlaurne, chief director at the office of Foreign Affairs, and was received not merely with coldness, but with certain sarcastic observation on the slice Of territory which Austria desired, he insinuated, to appropriate to herself from the part of Russia adjoining the mouths of the Danube. In fact the language used against Austria amongst the partisans of the Court was violent in the exreme, and the ingratitud e o f th a t P o wer was spoken Of openly, as something monstrous, with regard to Russia, who had saved from total destruction the House of Hapsburg.' On the evening of the 29th Dec. the rumour was current that Baron de Seebach, minister of Saxony at Paris, and who represented Russian interests in that capi tal since the breaking out of the war, had arrived in St. P e t ers b urg . The news proved true, as the Baron was at the time at the hotel of his father-is' law, Count de Nesselrode. The secondary states of Europe having of late given evidence of consi derable independence, every one looked on Baron de Seebach as a reinforcement to Count d.'Ester hazy, and, in consequence, no one was surprised to learn that the day after his arrival, the Saxon di' lomatist passed a great part of the morning with the Austrian envoy. The Baron was received by the Emperor Alexander on the 31st of December, and the audienn,t lasted upwards of two hours. What took place at the interview I of course can not inform you, but what I can affirm is, that Count de Nesselrode, who a week before had pub lished his famous circular to make known the final intentions of Russia, all at once changed his tone, and declared that his circular was not an ultima: tuna any more than was the Austrian note, and that there appeared not to be any impossibility of coming to an understanding on a middle ground. It is evident, therefore, that Baron de Seebach's re° presentations have had something to do with the sudden veering about of the Russian chancellor. ACCEPTANCE OF THE ALLIES' PROPOSITIONS BY RUSSIA. A third edition of the Morning Post says that her Majesty's Government have received the fol lowing telographic despatch front Sir Hamilton Seymour : " The Russian Government accept the Austrian proposals as a basis for negotiation." We (Times) hare received the following tele graphic despatch from our Vienna correspon- dent : " VIENNA, WEDNESDAY, 10 P. m. " Russia has unconditionally accepted the pro positions of tho Allies. This is authentic." BERLIN, WEDNESDAY. The Invalide Russe publishes a telegraphic despatch from Prince Gortschakoff. The Prince says that a party of French, wearing white cloaks (probably that they might not be so readily per ceived in the snow), advanced by night and sur prised Baidar. They bayonetted the outposts, but retreated when the Russian reserves came up. The Russian loss was three killed and three wounded. COPENHAGEN, WEDNESDAY. The existence of a Danish circular despatch, repudiating Denmark's solidarity with Sweden's treaty, and promising to maintain strict neu trality in future, is denied by the official journal here. FRANCE. PARIS, WEDNESDAY. The following telegraphic despatches have been received here to-day : TRIBSTE, Jan. 15.—According to accounts from Constantinople to the 7th, the advanced posts of the Russians were within three hours' march of Erzeroum. It is said that Asia will be the theatre of the war iR the spring. The Allies, the report goes, will evacuate the Crimea, with the exception of Kamiech and Balaklava. In that case, the greater part of the English troops will proceed to Redout Kale, and thence operate against Tiflis. As to the Turks, they with the Piedmontese are, it is said, to go to Erzerouai. Omer Pacha, it is added, is to go and reside in England. Despatches Eke the last must be received with great caution, as nearly every point contained in them are mere hypotheses. VIENNA, Jan. 15.—TheAustrian , Correspondence announces that Russia has not absolutely rejected the cession of territory demanded from her, reserv ing to herself to' treat the question in the confer ences which, it is said, may take place. Prince Gortschakoff has not demanded his passports. BERLIN, Jan. 15.—Art. 5 of the Austrian pro positions was drawn up not only in view of the continuation of the war, but also in the eventua lity of approaching negotiations. By virtue of this article, England, it is said, demands that the fortifications of the islands of Aland shall net be re-established, and that is what Russia is said not to consent to. The New Prussian Gazette an nounces that several of the princes of the Germanic Confederation will shortly assemble at Berlin. The Prince Regent of the Grand Duchy of Baden, the Grand Duke of-Weimar, and the Prince Heir Presumptive of Anhalt Dessau are to arrive to morrow. The Prince de Hohenlohe has arrived to day from Vienna. MADRID, Jan. 15.—The instruction of the affair in which the militiamen arrested last Monday wore concerned is terminated, and their defenders named. A modification in the Cabinet is announced as posi tive by the Nacion • M. Escosura, entering on the duties of Minister of the Interior, and M. Lujan on those of Minister of Commerce. The with drawal of M. Bruil from the Cabinet is yet doubt ful. The sitting of the Cortes to-day has offered nothing of interest. It is said that the Credit Mobilier will undertake the works at the Puerta del Sol and those of the Northern Railway. The ministry has not yet been fully completed. TURIN, Jan. 15.—The discussion on the bill re lative to the loan commenced to-day in the Cham ber of Deputies. Count de Cavour made an ex cellent speech in reply to the opponents of the measure. It is said that a private telegraphic despatch was received to-day from Vienna announcing that M. Esterhazy was not to quit St. Petersburg even should no satisfactory answer be given by the Russian Government on the 18th. If this be exact it would show that the hope of an arrangement still subsists. The despatch has not been pub lished here. The following is the address delivered yesterday by the Duke of Cambridge on the distribution of the medals to the French army : " Her Majesty the Queen of England has deigned to charge me with the office of presenting to the generals, officers, and rank and file of the French army, my brave and worthy comrades!, tbese medals as a token of the cordial esteem and friendship which exist between the two nations, and of the admiration which her Majesty and the English nation have felt in seeing the glorious feats of arms performed by the army of the East. It was in the great combats of the Alma, Inkerman, and Sebastopol that the alliance of the two nations was ratified by the two armies. God grant this great alliance may always continue for the advantage and glory of both nations ! As for myself, my dear comrades, the honour which has been conferred on me is the greater that I have served with you, and have seen with my own eyes your bravery, your great military qualities, and the devotedness with which you have supported se many fatigues and so many danger , . I sincerely thank the Emperor for his kindness in allowing me to have the honour of distributing these medals iu his presence." The Emperor and . Empress honoured with their presence last evening a grand ball given at the British embassy in honour of the distribution of the English Crimean medal to the French troops. Their Majesties and the Duke of Cambridge ar rived at half•past nine. The Emperor opened the ball with Lady Cowley, the Royal Duke dancing with the Princess Augusta of Hesse. The Em press, who looked uncommonly well, remained seated during the evening. At 12 o'clock supper was served to their Majesties, the Princess Mathildo, who was present, his Royal Highness, and some of the most distinguished guests. The Imperial party took their departure at a quarter past one, but dancing was kept up until after three. This fete had collected tdgebher nearly all the per sons of distinction in Paris, and a number of officers in the English uniform was considerable, most of them wearing the medal of the day. The members of the Council of War attracted great at tention, particularly Admirals Lyons and Dundas and Generals Jones and Airey, on the one hand, and Generals Canrobert, Bosquet, and La Mar mora, on the other. " God save the Queen " and " Partant pour la Syria" were admirably played during the evening, by the band, and the whole display was an exceedingly brilliant one. BOURSE, Jan. 16.--The following are the last quotations : Cash. ft. e. End of Month. 4} per Cents 9l 75 —f. -0 . 3 per Cents 63 20 63 25 New Loan 63 90 Bank 5hare5........, 3100 Roman Credit Mobilier 1250 Austrian Belgian Fives. .... .. 94 Spanish Threes — riedrnontese (5). B4 Home Debt ....... , 34i RAILWAYS-70R CASH. fr. c. e. Orleans ... ............ 1120 Western... 717 50 Northern .. .......... 855 Strasburg Lyons .......... . ... 1105 New Ditto 733 75 Mediterranean ...... 1230 Grand Central Lyons GOII9VR - Teste — _ Cette .................. Austrian Corn. 715 THE WAR IN ASIA. TURICISII CAM!. SEVA, MINURELIA, D. 12.__ Yesterday O mer Pashaf continued his retreat as far as Bija, a village about four miles inland from flopeli, and where it is supposed he will remain for the winter. This morning he received the condi tions of the surrender of Kars, and as these are more favourable than was hoped for, the Turks try to flatter themselves that they have done some thing by their expedition. General Williams, Major Lake, and the regular Turkish soldiery of the garrison are detained as prisoners of war ; but the Bashi-Bazouks, the Redifs, and all the Poles and Hungarians are allowed to depart free. A Russian deserter arrived in camp to-day, and states that there is a strong force in Kutais, but no moyeratut 111 pursuit of the) Tula, who appear to BEGINNING OF THE NATIONAL DEBT• (Front Macaulay's theory of England.) It was about the year 1688 that the word stock' jobber was first heard in London. In the short space of four years a crowd of companies, every one of which confidently held out to subscribers the hope of immense gains, sprang into existence : the Insurance Company, the Paper Company, the Lutestring Company, the Pearl Fishery Cony pany, the Glass Bottle Company, the Alum Coro' pany, the Blythe Coal Company, and the Sword' blade Company. There was a Tapestry Compal3l9 which would soon furnish pretty hangings for all the parlours of the middle class, and for all the bed-chambers of the higher. There was a Copper Company which proposed to explore the minis of England, and held out a hope that they would prove not less valuable than those of Potosi. There was a Diving Company, which un dertook to bring up precious effects from ship wrecked vessels, and which announced that it had laid in a stock of wonderful machines resembling complete suits of armour. In front of the helmet was a large glass eye like that of a Cyclop, and out of the crest went a pipe through which the air was to be admitted. The whole process was 'exhibited on the Tharee=. Fine gentlemen and fine ladies were invited to the show, were hospitably regaled, and were delighted by seeing the divers in their panoply descend into the river, and return laden with old iron and ships' tackle. There was a Greenland Fishing Company, which could not fail to drive the Dutch whalers and herring busses out of the Northern Ocean. There was a Tanning Company, which promised to fur' nish leather superior to the best that was brought from Turkey or Russia. There was a society which undertook the office of giving gentlemen a liberal education, on low terms, and which assumed the sounding name of the Royal Academies Company In a pompous advertisement it was announced that the directors of the Royal Academies Cora' pany had engaged the best masters in every branch of knowledge, and were about to issue twenty thousand tickets at twenty shillings each. There was to be a lottery, two thousand primes were to be drawn, and the fortunate holders of the prizes were to be taught, at the charge of the company, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Spa nish, conic sections, trigonometry, heraldry, P.' panning, fortification, book-keeping, and the art of playing the theorbo. Some of these companies took large mansions and printed their advertise ments in gilded letters. Others less ostentatious were content with ink, and met at coffee-houses in the neighbourhood of the Royal Exchange. Jonathan's and Garraway's were in constant ferment with erokers, buyers, sellers, meetings of directors, and meetings of proprietors. Time bargains soon came into fashion. Extensive combinations were formed, and monstrous fables were circu lated, for the purpose of raising or depressing the price of shares. Our country witnessed for the first time those phenomena with which a long experience has made us familiar. A mania, of which the symptoms were essentially the same with those of the mania of 1720, of the mania of 1825, of the mania of 1845, seized th e p u bli c m i n d. A n impati ence to be rich, a contempt for these slow but sure gains which are the proper reward of industry, pa' tience, and thrift spread through society. The spirit of the cogging dicers of Whitefriars took pos session of the grave senators of the City, wardens of trades, deputies, aldermen. It was much easier and much more lucrative to put forth a lying prospectus an nouncing a new stock, to persuade ignorant people that the dividends could not fall short of twenty per cent., and to part with five thousand pounds of this imaginary wealth for ten thousand solid guineas, than to load a ship with a well-chosen cargo for Virginia or the .Levant. Every day some new bubble was puffed into existence, rose buoyant, shone bright, burst, and was forgotten. DEATH OF THE BEV. JOHN BRANCH. ( From, th,e Patriot.) We are this day called upon to record the lamented death of the Rev. John Branch, pastor of the Baptist Church meeting in Church•street Chapel, Blackfriars. This melancholy event took place somewhat suddenly. On Sunday week Mr. Branch preached as usual, and apparently in his usual health. During the subsequent week, he employed himself with wonted activity in benevolent pursuits. On Saturday, at noon, he breathed his last ; death being ascribed to asthma connected with disease of the heart, from which he was known to suffer. He had not attained his 50th year. _ _ _ _ The career of this estimable Christian labourer, though neither brilliant nor protracted, was more than ordi• narily laborious and useful. Though not trained for the ministry, in the common signification of that term, he bad received the best of all training for pastoral and ministerial success. Relinquishing business in middle life, he became a City Missionary in connection with the London City Mission. While thus engaged, his piety and talents attracted the notice of Mr. Geo. Hitchcock, at whose request be occupied for a length of time what may be designated as the office of domestic chaplain to that gentleman's numerous establishment in St. Paul's churchyard. In like manner, his devoted labours among the poor, the ignorant, and the abandoned, drew the attention and engaged the confidence and esteem of the Earl of Shaftesbury and other eminent Christian philan thropists ; and he eventually became the Superintendent of the Missionaries of the London City Mission. While thus occupied, be was called to be the pastor of the Baptist Church in Waterloo-road, where he developed features of moral and intellectual character which im pressed the sister church in Church -street, Blackfriars, with the importance of securing his services for the re• vival of that depressed Christian community. Mr. Branch saw it to be his duty to accept this invitation ; and the results were such as to vindicate the steps taken on both sides. The chapel, which had been comparatively deserted, was speedily filled ; and though, in the inter val, there came a preacher more popular than any man on that aide of the river since Win. Jay first startled the town in Surrey Chapel, yet the church and congregation which Mr. Branch found weak and wasted, he has, though called thus suddenly away, left comparatively strong, numerous, and flourishing. Yesterday morning the West India steamer arrived in Southampton water in the midst of an impenetrable fog, Although she continually fired guns and sent up rockets, none of the boats which went off to her could find her, and the persons in them were obliged to return to land for compasses to enable then► to steer their course to the West India moorings. LIVERPOOL GRANDPOULTRY SHOW.— LIVER?OOL, Jan. 16.—The annual exhibition of fancy poultry was onened today at Lucas' s C arr i a ge Repository, Gr e at Charlotte street. There is a sensible falling off in the number of birds exhibited, and a less numerous attend ance of visitors tha n on f orme r occasions affords proof that the rage for poultry shows is on the decline. THE ALKALI MANUFACTURES OF THE TYNE.—WO ar informed that the manufacture of alkali on the Tyne has quite recovered the severe depression of last year. Beat alkali is quoted at gd. per cent. per cwt. ; second quality, 21d. ditto ; crystal soda, five guineas per ton ; about 11. per ton advance upon the same period of last year. The demand is good, and the stocks are reported to be less than the average. The market is buoyant, with every prospect of a good year, MO: COM The Li' steadily, i slightest Friday. v l s o ao oA o sc P sfet e oe r rua n di Which wei a ; 30( 10d. to 17 tober have by the W later from adyices. of that c that the C the ordir extraneou the legisla in Engin that the i: general r insolvenci and it Ivo firms we standing ment th up to th weekly re not yield port of go important netted wii to cover •ented a q shortly be known, ai haneed higher. 15 s. to 1 In the ings ,hay Land ho about it BRIM 8 per Cen 8 per Cer New 3 pc Long Ant Ditto 3 Ditto 3 India Sto India llot Ditto, Vonaois 1( Excheq 1:10( ctrual Ditto Ditto, Ditto PRICE Chiliau Ditto nreaada Nexican Ditto Peruviar. Ditto Itussiak Ditto Sardinia] Ditto Simms!. Ditto Ditto Spanish Turkish Ditto Ditto Ditto Dutch La3t Paul," - solo pa Mr. Sir chorus) Hunab with p Hullat roue cl which him to desery accura sung t and st splend receiv " Noi Mada Were have last n attenc c( m g] deficit millk certai which main( and a creed orce