The Sun. — London, England, 1861-02-18 00:00:00

OYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. Under the 31anagement of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison, Sole Lessees. 7 THIS EVENING, the Second Act of THE NIGHT DANCERS. Madame Palmieri, Messrs. M. Haigh, H. Core, &c. Followed by Balfe'S SATANELLA. Mks Louisa Fyne. Miss Leffler, Miss Thirlwall ; Messrs. 11. Wharton, H. Corri, St. Albyn, Lyall, and Mr. Wm. Harrison. To conclnde with a Divertissement. Conductor —Mr. Alfred Mellon. Commence at Seven. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Leme, Mr. J. B. Buckstone. - • - THIS EVENINfI, the perform anoPg will enrarnPnee with the Comedy of THE BABES IN THE WOOD. Messrs. E. Villiers, Bucketone, W. Farren, Mrs. Wilkins, and Miss F. After which, a new Pantomime, QUEEN LADYBIRD AND HER CHILDREN. The Pantomimists by the un rivalled Leclercqs, Herr Cole, and Fanny Wright. Commence at 7. RO YAL PRINCE S S'S THEATRE...— Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, the Farce of A.S.S. To be followed by DON CiESAR DE BAZAN. Don Creel', Mr. Fechter. Supported by Messrs. Basil Potter, F. Matthews, J. G. Shore, Miss M. Harris, bliss C. Leclercq, and Mrs. Weston. After which, a new Christmas comical pantomime, entitled ROBINSON CRUSOE ; or, Harlequ in Friday, and the King of the Caribbe Islands : in which Monsieur Espinosa and Mdlle. Marie Dumilatre, of the principal cantinental theatres will appear. Clown, Mr. A. F. Forrest. THEATRE _ROYAL LYCEUM. sole Lessee and Directress, Madame CELESTE. THIS EVENING the new drama, THE HOUSE ON THE BRIDGE OF NOTRE DAME. Principal characters by Mr. G. Vining, Mr. .T. Johnstone, Mr. V i lliers, Mr. Cli ff ord, Mr.. John Rouse, Mr. Forrester, Mr. Morris ; Miss M.Ternan , Miss K. Saville, Miss L. Thompson, and Madame Celeste. Alter which, the Lyceum Christmas Comic Extravaganza, CRYSTABELLE ; or, The Rose without a Thorn, showing VISIO NT OF A ROSE. ITS FADING AT EVE , AND THE MAY-BLOOM OF THE WILD BRIAR. To conclude with a new Divertissement. Miss Lydia Thompson, Sm. ADELPHI, NEW THEATRE-ROYAL. Sole Proprietor and Manure'', Mr. Beni. Webster. -- - THIS EVENING, AN UGLY CUSTOMER. Messrs. J. L. Toole, C. Selby, and Warde ; Miss K. Kelly, and Mies E. Thorne. After which, THE COLLEEN BAWN. D. Tioncicault, D. Fisher, Milne - Jon, Falooner, Stephenson. C. J. Smith, Romer. Miss Agnes Robertson, Miss Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, and Mrs. Chatterley. To conclude with a new Burlesque Extravaganza, entitled BLUE BEARD FROM A NEW POINT OF HUE. Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, C. J. Smith ; Miss Woolgar, K. Kelly, Laidlaw, and le,. Thorne. Doors open at half past 6—Commence at 7. Box-office open trom 10 till 6. No charge for booking. Private boxes, X 2 2s. ; Family Boxes, IL Orchestra Stalls, is. ; Balcony, 4s. ; Front Circle Stalls, h. Pit Stalls, 25.; Pit, is. 6d. ; Amphitheatre, Is ; Gallery, 6d. Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.- fil and Manavr, Mr. Wm. BATTY. Immense success of " Turpin's Ride to York." The Last Morning Performance will take place on Friday, Feb. 2t, when the Boys of the Duke of York's School will attend with their splendid Brass Band, commencing at two o'clock with the Pantomime and Scenes in the Arena. - - THIS EVENING. will be reproduced TURPIN'S RIDE TO YORK, Aril . ) THE DEATH OF BLACK BESS, in which the Brothers Edwin will appear with their celebrated Steed Black Bess. To be suoceeded by Scenes hi the Arena, supported by talented Parisian and British Artistes. Concluding, with Batty's Prize Equestian Comic Panto mime, for Good Little Boys and Girls, by T. L. Greenwood, entitled HARLEQUIN" AND THE WONDERFUL HORSE •, or. Tercinet and Grociosa, the Ugly Duchess and the Greedy King, produced with Gorgeous Scenery, by Mr. Cuthbert, new Costumes and Appointments, and introducing in the comae scenes Ratty's Prize Equestrian Harlequinade, and the celebrated Old Bob Ridley. Box-office open daily om 11 till 4 Stage Ma fr nager—Mr. W. WEST. Director of the Arena—Mr. Pearson. Commence at 7. CANTERBURY -HALL CONCERTS!!! A Grand Selection from Verdi's Opera, IL CORSARO, Consisting of the following Morceaux:— Preludio. Coro Scena ed Aria. "Tutto parca Sorridere" Coro di Odalische. " Oh qual perenne" Cavatina " Vola talor dal Carcere" Coro ed inno Scena ed Aria. " Cento leggiadre Vergini" Terzetto Finale "Voi tacete io non" will shortly be produced, in the orignal key and Italian language—the first time of performance in this country—in addition to the usual attractions. Mr. F. JONGITMANS, Musical Director. Also. in preparation, Selections from Verdi's New Operas, 'Un hallo in Maschera," "Simon Boccanegra ;" and Flo tow's celebrated Opera of "Stradella." HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TiH DAY.—Morning, 6h. 48m.—Afternoon, 7h. Bm. To-moß.Row.-Morning, 7h. 36m.—Afternoon, Bh. Bm. THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, FEB, 17, 1861. THERMOMETER, IN TYE SHADE. 51—highest since noon yesterday. 42—lowest this morning and during the night. 53—this day at noon. BAROMETER-29.78. WlND—South-South-Westerly—light ; with fine weather. F. 18. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHIMS. 54—highest since noon yesterday. 40—lowest this morning and during the night. 51—this day at noon. BAROMETER-29.67. WlND—South-Westerly—light ; with fine weather. ~, -,7v.-. ~,, ~.,,, ~,,;,-,. ::__ 5p116AF,44„...., 4. _ 4 • id • Z• .~~~ TH SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 18, 1861. THE SUN. LONDON, MONDAY, FEB. 18, 1881. The commercial public really appeared rather to like 7 per cent, discounts. Now that the rate is put up to 8 per cent. they manifest a disposition to recalcitrate and blame the Bank. The Times affirms that " there is no valid ground for the advance," and Manchester declares it to be " pre- cipitate and unnecessary." Oracle OVERSTONE has, however, pronounced that the Old Lady in Threadneedle-street has no more to do with a rise in the rate of discount than BRITTANIA herself. In his examination before the House of Commons Com mittee, on July 7th, 1857, the noble and opulent lord delivered, with his accustomed amiability of asse veration, his decision on this point :—" A great deal of fallacy lies in that term raising the rat• of discount.' You talk of the Bank raising the rate of discount—that is the technical mode of ex pressing it, but it is not the correct one. The Bank does not raise the rate of discount ; it is much more correct to say that the rate of discount is raised upon the Bank. The fact is, that the diminution in the quantity of money in the country raises the value of the money that remains, and the Bank is obliged to conform to that rise in the value of money. The Bank has no power per se of raising the rate of discount." Aad again his lordship says " The value of money rises by natural circumstances. The Bank of England have no more power of raising the rate of discount than you or I have : they must conform. As long as they had an unlimited power of issue they might delay that operation by improperly increas ing their issues. The moment they are put under legitimate and wholesome regulations on that point, their power over the rate of interest is gone : they must conform to it." Very well. We accept Lord OVERSTONE'S account of the matter. The Bank once had, accord ing to his notion, " a power over the rate of inte rest." " Legitimate and wholesome regulations," to wit, PEEL'S Bills, have taken away that power, and now " the Bank is obliged to conform to the rise in the value of money" caused by a diminu tion in its quantity. Let us then have the saddle on the right horse. Let us not be told, when things go right, that we are to thank PEEL'S Bills, and that, when they go wrong, we are to blame the Bank. PEEL took the responsibility of managing the circulating medium by his Bill of 1819. PEEL and OVERSTONE, by the complement" Bill of 1844 —that " perfect mea sure —professedly removed every tittle of remaining responsibility from the Bank. " Do you attend to your banking business," they said to the Bank. " Leave to us, the philo sophers and statesmen of England, the entire management of the currency." What has been the result ? The grinding misery of 1819, th e ruinous panics of 1825, 1317, and 1857. During the time of the Bank Restriction----from 1797 to 1819—the Bank was managed by practical men of business, of high character and patriotic feelings of their responsibility. A shrewd, plain experienced Manchester man, who knew the system well, was asked by Sir R. PEEL before the committee of 1819—" What do you consider to be the inconvenience arising from the Bank being prevented from pay ing in specie ?" He replied, "I am not aware of any." "Do you mean your answer," said the statesman, " to apply to the non-payment in specie permanently, or only for a limited time ?" " I can only say," was the further reply, " that I have experienced ao inconvenience, nor do I know any body who has ; and if the Bank continues to be always conducted as it has been, I do not expect that any inconvenience will arise in future." Such was the opinion of one of the best bankers in Lon don, Mr. LEWIS LOYD, Lord OVERSTONE'S father. During this period the rate of discount was steady and uniform at 5 per cent. " Have you consulted your books," was asked in the Committee on Bank Acts of 1857, of a London banker, a contemporary with Mr. LEWIS LOYD, "to ascertain whether you did not charge more than 5 per cent. during any part of that period ?" " I have not consulted the books," was the answer, " because I so confi dently know it ; it was a thing which never occurred to us. I would venture to say that we never charged above 5 per cent. in any single instance." . Did you charge no commission ?" " None." Now, observe, from 1819 to 1844 the rate changed from 40 to 50 times at least. From 1844 to 1856, the rate charged by the Bank of England, by their returns to the Committee of 1856, has varied— sometimes merely for small sums-143 times, and has fluctuated from 2 per cent. to 91 per cent. It is not necessary that we should state in detail the evils arising from this uncertain and fluctuating rate of discount. They are well known to every commercial man, and have tended more than any thing to introduce a system of wild speculation and commercial gambling. But the evils of these changes, and especially of a high rate of interest, affect thousands who have little or nothing to do with bills of exchange and discounts. For a high rate of discount means dear money ; and dear money means cheap goods and low prices ; and low prices, with heavy taxes, mean distress, confusion, and ruin ; mills closed, workhouses full, and poverty and consequent crime on the increase throughout the country. Strip this system of the mysterious obscurity with which the cunning Hard Calculator and the Philosophical Usurer have enveloped it, and what is it ? It is one by which all contracts between man and man, and all the interests of trade and commerce, are made dependent on the presence or absence in this country of a particular com modity—Goi.n. At this time we want money, an abundant supply of the circulating medium, which the industrious producer may buy with his goods to pay his heavy taxes. We want money for our national defences, money for the development of our trade, money to conduct the gigantic enterprises of a hardworking ingeni ous population. But if the French Bank wants gold, if the United States want gold, if the Indian Government wants silver, or if the Emperor of CHINA should take it into his head to want gold, any one of these gold and silver buyers may, by diminishing our stock of bullion, cause the contraction of our money, of our bank notes, and of our bills of exchange, and thus throw the whole commercial machine out of gear. With these evils we are threatened. Now ! when not even a word can be said about over-trading, or speculation, but when the English people are quietly and steadily pursuing their path of over-working industry. The effects of the gold discoveries ought to have brought permanent prosperty to the people of England, as the silver mines did in the days of ELIZABETH. The ingenious contrivance of a set of Currency Charlatans has done much to neutralise the good effects which even their folly could not destroy. We have, indeed, gorgeous palaces spring ing up around us, luxury, refinement, and wealth on the increase. But we wish to see the poor man, the working man, and the " pauper " getting his fair share of the good things of this life. That can never be the case while the present monetary sys tem exists. And though we indulge in no visionary dream of unfluctuating and universal prosperity, we believe, most firmly, that the end of good govern. ment, " the greatest happiness of the greatest number," would be essentially promoted by sound Currency Reform. For this, the great question of the day, we are content " to labour and to wait." England and France having very recently opened for the new year their respective Parliaments, the latter on the 4th, the former on the sth instant— Sardinia (shall we not rather say, Italy ? ) now in her turn inaugurates upon this very day, the 18th of February, at Turin, the most momentous legisla tive session recorded in her history fOr many generations. The character of the Italian Parlia ment is already known long before the inauguration of its labours. The majority accorded to CAVOUR is clearly overwhelming. A result attributable entirely, we believe, to the magnificently magnani mous reticence of CAVOUR'S renowned and most formidable rival, GARIBALDI. Had the Hermit of Caprera but raised his finger as a summons to the electors of Italy, the majority, we are firmly con vinced, would have been Ms ! The bulk of the representatives chosen in the Northern and Southern as well as in the Central States of the peninsula would have been the sympathisers with the Soldier-Champion and not with the Statesman- Advocate of Italy One and Indivisible ! In that contingency—had GARIBALDI but spoken the word —the sword of the hero would have been flung into the scale, and not, as now, the pen of the diplomatist. To GARIBALDI, and to GARIBALDI alone, we believe to be attributable the fact, now visible and notorious th roug h out Europe, that CAVOUR has an immense, a n d, as we have said, overwhelming majority in the new Italian Parliament. Accord ingly as the event may be regarded by the more ardent or the more prudent spectators, this extraor dinary display of self command on the pa r t o f General GARIBALDI at such an important crisis in his own destinies and in those of his native land, will be reviled as Quixotism or revered as Mac , - nan i m it y _ as Quixotism half born of weakness, half of vanity—as pure and simple Magnanimity, a magnanimity dictated by the loftiest motives of prudential patriotism. Designate it how you will —there is the Fact now resplendently shining before the recognition of all Europe, that GARI BALDI has conceded to CAVoUR by his silence, by his retirement from the scene, by his long-con tinued, and therefore doubly astonishing display of self-abnegation, GARIBALDI has in this way voluntarily conceded to his rival, CAVoUR, a vast and commanding majority in the new Italian Parliament. As to the one sole motive dictating this course to the Victor of Calatafimi, there cannot very well by this time, we presume, be two opinions. The charge of weakness, of timidity, directed against a man like that, is nothing more nor less than simply ridiculous. It is just for all the world like an insinuation of cowardice thrown out against para. gons and arcilqypes of heroism like 'lona'Ho NELSON or WAPOLEON BONAPARTE. One might a s well b'ear a whisper next of cupidity as the in centivn to a line of action, or rather of in -action, in itself so bewildering, when judged by the ordi nary rules of this world's policy. Weakness ! on the part of him who, Nritlt a little band of less than two thousand voluateen, swept aside a royal' army numbering more than twenty thousand regular troops, who compelled theta to lay down their arms and to retire from the scene, conquering Sicily with two or three blows as from at hunderbolt ! Weakness! from him who, advancing sL brief while afterwards alone, without his little band of volunteers, accom panied merely by a few personal attendants, his suite or escort, scared the King of the Two Sicilies out of his capital, arrivinu at Naples (armed only by the terror and glamour a his name) like any ordi nary traveller by railway !: Why, the exploit of the conquest of Naples, of the wl aole Neapolitan Kingdom including Sicily, the exploit of that extraordinary conquest by GARIBALDI is comparable only in its romantic character to the marvellous incident of the Return from Elba. Remembering always that the latter astonishing and, in truth, wholly match less achievement was accomplished without the shedding of one drop of blood—that it was a con quest—by a man, by a name—without a Galata fimi ! With that single difference the Sicilian and Neapolitan exploit of GARIBALDI will take its place in the same category, with the Return from Elba, amongst the most astounding heroic recollections of modern Europe. Yet it is this very Incarnation of Audacity, who with all Italy—not at his feet, for it is he chiefly who has bade it crouch no longer— who with all Italy at his beck, ready, nay, eager to answer upon the instant to his voice, to follow him or to wait for him as he might dictate—it is this daring Leader and Champion of the Italian Revolution who has now voluntarily withdrawn to his island farm, and left to his rival and in some respects, his very opposite CAVOUR, the conduct of the elections to that new Italian Parliament, which is to be opened this day by King VICTOR EMMANUEL. It is in perfect keeping with the past that GARI BALDI should thus have acted with a calm and unimpassioned eye to the future. It is in perfect keeping with the previous incidents of his career as Liberator. It tallies, this amazing reticence and self-abnegation, it tallies completely with the lofty impulses already actuating GARIBALDI —when, with his very clothes worn and patched, as he advanced from the conquest of Sicily to the bloodless capture of Naples, he scornfully cast aside, as a proffered degradation, the enormous bribes reported to have been held out to him by the emissaries of the flying Sovereign when, supreme Dictator of that vanquished kingdom of Naples he voluntarily descended from power, sheathing his sword upon the very mor row of Victory—when, himself master of the situation, he waited for the arrival of VICTOR EMMANUEL, holding out his hand to him as he approached, and hailing him for the first time " King of Italy"—when, finally, and to complete all, with scarcely a bajocchi left in the pocket of his threadbare breeches, he withdrew from the scene of these great achievements, resuming the toils of his simple farm-life in his island-home at Caprera. In perfect harmony with all this has been the course since then pursued by GARIBALDI in remaining not simply in person but also in silence at Caprera waiving, for the time, the postponed but not forgotten pledge of his summons to arms of 1,000,000 followers. The Sovereign himself, VICTOR EMAIANUEL—the states man, Count CAvouit—ltaly—the Italian Parlia ment—all have a debt to pay to this extraordinary man. A debt to pay, not in titles, not in authority any more than in beggarly coin or in trumpery gew-gaw decorations—they have all a debt to pay to him in THE REGULATION OF THEIR POLICY —a debt due, if possible, more by reason of what he has not done, than by reason of all the wonderful things he has actually accom plished. That, in truth, is his one sole recompense —the one only guerdon worthy of his acceptance— the one single boon coveted by his unselfish ambition. And again, we repeat (what Europe has long since come to recognise) that it is his due—his due alike from the KING and from the KIN G'S Prime Minister, from the people, and from their Parliament. He who has conceded so much to CAYOUR for the sake of Italy —should have something in return (for the sake of Italy) conceded to him by CAYOUR, conceded to him that is in the policy enunciated this day by the KING and by the KING'S chief Minister before the newly assembled Parliament of the Italian penin sula. It is due to GARIBALDI. Yes : view him how you may, call him what you please —we will for once combine the praise and blame imputed to him—it is due to that Quixote of Magnanimity. It is common to laugh at those who prophesy evil from political inconsistencies and anomalies, and generally the laughers have the best of it for their, own generation. In the case of America, they have hardly that. The generation of colonists which declared itself independent of the mother country has yet a few gray-haired survivors, who remember WASHINGTON and his fellow worthies ; and during their lifetime political insonsiatency is avenging itself on the Great Confederacy. It was a confederation whose basis was a lie, and lies are dangerous foundations. It declared all men to have certain inalienable rights, liberty being foremost. In the same paper it bound the States of federation to the conservation of personal slavery, for this was the meaning of the famous paraphrase, " persons held to labour by the laws of any State" —and such persons, meaning slaves, were never to be allowed a chance of regaining their "inalienable right." If they escaped from personal bondage, as their forefathers gloried in escaping from political bondage to the " Hanoverian Tyrant," all the States they fled into were to hunt them back to slavery. This villainous compromise, which stains the memory of WASHINGTON himself, is now per• fecting its natural retribution. The slavery at first acknowledged to be an evil, and only to be tolerated for a time, became year after year less and less modest, till nothing would satisfy it but electing the Presi dent, nominating the judges of the Supreme Court, and converting all the States of the Union into Slave-land. From the humble tone of an apologist it advanced to that of a self-defender, till now slavery is praised as the benevolent law of Heaven, not the infernal code of kidnappers. The charge of the South against the North is that the latter regards slavery as a sin. The charge of the North against tt.e South is that the latter desires to make the whole Union the dwelling-place and the ac complice in its sin. To this conviction the North has been brought, not, we fear, by moral consi derations, but chiefly by two of a much less noble character. The North revolted from the political domination of the South with its detestable institu tion; and next, the plod has accumulated with overpowering force that slavery to the extent to which it reaches is the beggary of the country. One-half of the United States are, commercially and agriculturally, in the most miserable plight, because they are cursed with forced, instead of free labour. As a part of the Federation, they do. not pay for the cost of their Government. The blinded Slave States, on the :other hand, not perceiving the true cause of their com mercial degradation, attribute it to their union with the North. This is especially the case with South Carolina ; and mcst of the cotton States have somehow the strange fancy that, if they set up a Federation for themsel!es, they would at once be in the path to prosperity and greatness. They would rival the proud North. Charleston would eclipse Boston, if not New York itself. With such facts before us, we begin to think that the madness of the seceding States may prove incurable ; or that, if curable, it must be the work of some considerable time. At first Englishmen could hardly believe twat the Southern States could be so insane. The disadvantages and dangers of separation seemed to us here so obvious, that we gave them credit for more common sense. But a month or two has not only brought to light their actual temper, but has reminded us of the long and slow development of permanently opposed feelings in the two sections of the States. The South has been so long nursing its wrath, and the North doing nothing, or next to nothing to stir it, that its intensity was hardly perceived. Occasional acts of violence were set down to the barbarising influences of slavery and of a sparse population ; but the spark of the Presidential election Rred the whole mine, and it really seems as if the disruption were now to become a great fact. By the last advices we hear that another State, Texas, has voted for secession. As this country was stolen from Mexico by the slaveholders, merely to extend the area of slavery, the act can cause no surprise; there are, however, a conside:able num ber of German settlers in Texas, detesting slavery, and cultivating cotton industriously by free labour in some parts of the State, and as the act of seces sion is to be submitted to a popular vote, it is just possible, though not probable, that it may be re versed. On the other hand, California has vigorously protested on behalf of union; the peace and com promise convention proposed by Virginia has met at - Washington, but sits with closed doors, no one even knowing what States take a part in it; and Mr. SEwARD has presented a long petition from New York signed by 38,000 citizens in favour of compromise resolutions. Thus the civil proceedings appear at present to be, as before, of both kinds. Vast numbers of the city population, a class ever timid on commercial mat ters, fear the effect of disunion on their trade, and do all they can to patch up some unholy com promise ; but the far more numerous country popu lation seem to be sterner lovers of liberty, and refuse to hear of any departure from the vital point of the Republican programme—the refusal to allow extension of Slavery into the territories. As the Republican strength lies in that class which will one day furnish the emigrant population for the territories, it may be hoped they will stand firmly by their great principle—no extension of the plague of Slavery. Military movements, or rumours rather, are somewhat threatening. The President has refused the South Carolina ultimatum in regard to Fort Sumter, and an attack is said to be imminent. By the last account we noticed on the subject, there would appear to be but sixty soldiers in it. Should an attack be ventured, war will have begun in earnest. At New Orleans a Government ship, the Crusader, was treated as a hostile vessel. A scheme was actually laid, like that of TINAPHERNES for the capture of the Ten Thousand, for the officers of the ship were to be invited to a banquet, and the vessel seized during their absence from it! The commander was, however, more prudent than the unfortunate CLEARCIIUS. General SCOTT adopts very decided measures for the protection of the capital. The old veteran has never been hood winked from the beginning, neither have General Cass and General WOOL; and had Mr. BUCHANAN possessed but a little of their decision, courage, and fidelity to the Union as of more im portance than slavery, it is little likely that we should have heard of practical secession at all. The mean, helpless temporising of Mr. BUCHANAN is, doubtless, the main cause of the present disruption. His courage, if he has any deeper seated than his tongue, was paralysed by his hearty sympathy with slavery and slaveholders. ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY'S ALMANAC FOR 1861. With a view of keeping prominently before the public the great importance of life and fire assur ances, the Royal Insurance Company of London and Liverpool have issued a very attractive and useful almanac for the present year, which, in addition to the usual information found in volumes of this nature, contains a great variety of valuable statistical tables upon various subjects commercial, providential, and entertaining. The usual almanac tables, with neat ruled pages for memoranda on the opposite side, occupy the first dozen pages. Then follow some very appro priate remarks on the principles and constitution of the Royal Insurance Company, from which it ap pears to be one amongst the most flourishing of those highly useful institutions. The capital of the company available for purposes of meeting any unusual calamity happening to the assured, it appears, amounts to two millions sterling, the sum actually paid up being £28 . 3,065. Another notable feature in the "Royal" is, that for the year 1860 a bonus of two per cent. was declared on the sum as sured ; the whole of the profits are divided every five years, all policies two complete years in existence participating therein. Appended to the assurance par t of the little volume are some Tery curiouB diagrams, showing the numbers out of which one person will die in each year. Lists of her Majesty's Ministers, the members of the Houses of Lords and Commons are also given, and a very neatly written chronicle of the war in Italy concludes the work. A great amount of care and attention has evidently been bestowed in the production of this attractive little book. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—On Saturday night the Royal box was 6ccupied by Sir Charles Phipps and family, who was joined during the evening by General Grey, accompanied by his Royal Highness Prince Alfred, who seemed highly delighted with the pantomime of Toni Thumb. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge had a dinner party on Saturday evening, at her apartments at St. James's Palace. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, his Excellency the Austrian Ambassador and the Countess d'Apponyi, the Earl of Malmesbury, Count Pahlen, the Right Hon. Sir Hamilton Seymour, and the Marchioness of Ely ware among the guests. The duchess received a select circle of friends later in the evening. The Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and family arrived at their mansion in St. James's-square on Saturday, from Blenheim Palace, near Woodstock. The Marquis and Marchioness of Tweeddale are shortly expected in town from Yestor House, N.B. The Marquis of Hartington, M.P., has left Devonshire House for Melton Mowbray. The Earl and Countess Stanhope entertained at dinner on Friday last the Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde, the Earl and Countess Grey, Lady Charlotte Denison, Visc.unt Chelsea, Lord Stanley, M.P., the Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Stonor, and Sir David Dundas. The Countess (Dowager) of Westmoreland and Lady Rose Fane left town on Friday, on a visit to the Countess (Dowager) of Jersey, at Middleton Park; near Bicester. Lady Mary Wood and Misr, Wood are passing the season at Nice. Her ladyship will not return to town until May. Lord and Lady Churchill have arrived at the St. George's Hotel, LArl EbT INE NV S. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) MILAN, FEB. 17. The Perseveranza publish es a telegram from Perugia, dated the 15th inst., announcing that the Papal Zouaves had invaded Sardinian territory, but that they had been repulsed by volunteers. The Pontifical soldiers had fortified themselves at Nan zano. The same paper states that the surrender of Gaeta had given rise to great rejoicing in Rome. TURIN, FEB. 17. The rpinione has telegraphic advices from Milan, according to which King Victor Emmanuel had received General Bonin, the Envoy Extraordinary from the King of Prussia. TURIN, FEB. 17 (Evening). The official Gazette publishes a decree ordering the cessation of the administrative autonomy of Tuscany. King Victor Emmanuel is expected to arrive here this evening. COPENHAGEN, FEB. 16. The Berlingske Tidende declares that no differ ence of opinion on questions of principle has existed between the Ministers, and that complete unani mity now prevails between them. The same journal says : " The statement of the Flyvepost respecting the intention of the King to grant a constitution for the whole of the kingdom, and to institute two Chambers, is without any foundation. " The Estates of Holstein will be shortly con voked." A sitting of the Privy Council will take place next Tuesday, in which the Ministerial projects will be submitted to the King's sanction. NAPLES, FEB. 15. The Nazionale announces the discovery of a con spiracy in favour of Prince Murat, and states that the trial had commenced. PESTH, FEB. 16. The Court Chancellor, Baron Vay, in his reply to the Obergespanne, said :—" The diploma of October has created mutual obligations. The King has faithfully redeemed his pledge, and the country may now also fulfil its engagements by supporting the functionaries of the Government." The Prince Primate has accepted from the Ober gespanne the mission of laying before the Emperor their petition for the re-establishment of the laws of 1848 and the convocation of the Diet at Pesth. AGRAM, FEB. 16. The General Congregation has sent a deputation to the Ban requesting him to raise the state of siege at Fiume. ST. PETERSBURG, FEB. 16. A direct transaction has been arranged between the Imperial Bank and the Bank of France for the exchange of 30 millions of francs in gold for the same amount in silver. MADRID, FEB. 17. Nothing positive is known respecting the rumoured Ministerial crisis. The Spanish Minister in Mexico has received his passports from the new Government, and is about to proceed to Havanna. • The Spanish squadron off Havanna has been ordered to sail to Vera Cruz. The Spanish journals assert that dissension was about to break out among the constitutional party in Mexico. THE CESSION OF MENTONE AND ROQUE- BRUNE. We have received the Journal de Monaco of the 10th Kist. It publishes the following : " On the 2d of February a treaty was signed at Paris, by which his Most Serene Highness the Prince of Monaco cedes the communes of Mentone and Roquebrune to his Majesty the Emperor of the French. " The Plenipotentiaries were, for the Emperor, M. P. Faugere, sous directeur of Foreign Affairs, and, for the Prince, M. le Comte Henri d'Avigdor. " The exchange of ratifications will take place within ten clays. " This cession is made by the Prince for an in demnity of 4,000,000 f. (E 160,000), as also the resti tution of the private properties belonging to his Most Serene Highness in the communes of Mentone and lloquebrune, and of which the Prince was despoiled in 1848. " The treaty stipulates, moreover, the establish ment of a Customs-union between France and the Principality, and the engagement on the part of the Imperial Government to construct a carriage road between. Nice and Monaco, following the sea shore, as also to enlarge and improve the road from Monaco to Mentone. " This treaty, which is as honourable for our Sovereign as it is advantageous for the country, put an end to the abnormal state of things which has existed for ' thirteen years.'" THE LAST DAYS AT GAETA. The lioniteur publishes the following:— "A private despatch has announced the arrival at Rome, on the 14th inst., of the King and Queen of Naples. They are accompanied by the King's brothers, and by General Bosco, who has been appointed Gentleman of the Chamber. M. Casella has remained at Gaeta to settle all matters concern ing the surrender of the fortress. " Their Majesties alighted at the Palace of the Quirinal, where his Holiness Pope Pius IX. paid them a visit on the 15th. "It appears that the bombardment on the 11th and 12th was of extreme violence. The explosion of the powder magazines had rendered the rifled cannon useless ; but the fortress still replied with the other guns. The Neapolitan artillerymen dis played the greatest bravery; twice they silenced the guns of the Batterie de Capucins. " On the 13th, although negotiations had been partially opened, the bombardment continued with the same violence; two batteries of the fortress were demolished, and then the capitulation was signed. It was the fortress that fired the last cannon shot. It appears that from the demand to surrender to the moment the capitulation was signed the Piedmontese threw 50,000 shells into the fortress. "On the 14th the Sardinian troops occupied one-half of the town at 8 a.m. At the same time the Queen, the Princes, the Royal Household, and the Foreign Ministers embarked on board La Mouette. The King passed the Neapolitan troops in review, who wept as they presented arms to him. An immense crowd was assembled, and the population shed tears. The King was very pale from emotion. Royal honours were paid to Francis 11. embarking' on board La Mouette. As the ve3sel left a salute of 21 guns was fired and the flags were lowered from the batteries, while the garrison shouted Long live the King !' though in presence of the Piedmontese, already in possession." FRANCE. The following are some details of the fete given by the Prince Imperial at tne Tuileries, two days back, to the enfants de troupe of the Ist division of infantry of the Imperial Guard : "The children, all of whom were in full uniform, with knapsack and muskets, were drawn up in a line in the courtyard of the palace ; and General Mellinet, who was in plain clothes, passed them in review. As the General was so occupied, the Prince Imperial, who was at one of the windows of the palace, manifested his delight by clapping his hands. A few seconds after, the Emperor, leading the Prince by the hand, came out, and their pre sence was greeted by the beating of drums and the acclamations of the little soldiers. Marshal Regnault de Saint-Jean-d'Angely, and some aides-de-camp, were in attendance on his Majesty. The Prince was in uniform, with a sword; but at his request, his musket and knapsack were brought from the palace, in order to be like the others. The Emperor and the Prince then passed down the line and the children proceeded to execute various movements, the bayonet exercise, etc., and in all they displayed remarkable precision and skill. Whilst these movements were going on, the Empress appeared, and her Majesty regarded alternately with marked interest both the little soldiers and her son. As soon as the exercises were over, the children piled arms; the Imperial Prince placing his musket with the others. After some repose, the enfants de troupe were formed into a column, and filed off before the Emperor and the Prince, raising loud cries of Vive l'Empereur Vive l'lmperatrice Vive le Prince Imperial.' " They were then invited by the Prince to a col lation which had been prepared in the palace, he taking two of them by the hand to show the way. After the feast, the children marched off with drums beating and fifes playing." BOURSE, Feb. 16.—The market has been firmer, and prices have obtained some little improvement, but business continues limited in amount. For the Account, Threes opened at 68f 15c, and are now at 68f 20c. Railways quiet, but firm. The following were the last quotations : 41 per per Cents ... 98 —! Credit Foncier 935 Do end month.... 98 Belgian 4} — 3 per Cents Do. end month 6B 25 Roman Bank Shares 2890 —lAustrian Credit Mobilier.... 685 Spanish Threes 47i Do. Account 6BB 75 ; Home Debt RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans l4lO .. 1408 75 Northern .... New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean 935 .. 933 75 Geneva 3BO E 75 Southern 532 .. 532 50 Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Loirbard . 477 50 .. 478 75 AMERICA. QUEENSTOWN, SUNDAY. The following is a fuller summary of the news brought by the Niagara:— The peace conference met at Washington on the 4th inst. to devise some compromise to dispose of the national dissensions. The conference met with closed doors. All the States were present that had elected commissioners, except New York, Tennessee, Alissouri, and Illinois. Eleven were fully repre sented. Mr. Wright, of Ohio, was temporary chairman, and Mr. E. Ward, of Maryland, tem porary secretary. A committee of one from each State was appointed on permanent organisation. The Washington correspondent of the New York nnes states that it was understood that the entire proceedings would be conducted in secret session. He also states that the Virginian delegation in the peace convention were determined to demand the eqnality of the South in all the territory hereafter to be acquired, as well as in that now held by the United States, in order, they said, that the present settlement might stand for ever. Tempo rary expedient they ignored. In this they were supported by the entire Kentucky delegation and a majority from Maryland. Missouri, it was un terstood, would take the same position. In the Senate, on the 4th inst., Messrs. Slidell and Benamin, the senators from Louisiana, with drew from the Senate, and made speeches on the occasion. Mr. Slidell set forth the objects and aims of the new confederacy, which he announced was to be constructed soon, and assured the Senate that all existing treaties of the United States would be faithfully regarded, including those relating to the African slave trade. A just proportion of the public debt would be assumed, the fortifications and other public property which had been seized would be accounted for, and the free emigration of the Mississippi would be guaranteed to all those residing in its valley. Mr. Benjamin's speech was similar in tenour to that of Mr. Slidell. Previous to this episode Mr. Wilson, of Mas sachusetts, offered a resolution, which was laid over, making inquiries relative to the late alleged seizure of Federal property at New Orleans. Lieut. James Jewitt, United States navy, of Ken tucky, arrived at Washington on the 31st ultimo, from Pensacola, and in consequence of the peculiar circumstances under which he left that city and made the transit of the State of Florida, he made haste this morning to call upon Senator Crittenden to report the facts to him, and solicit his advice. It appears that as soon as it was known that Lieut. Jewitt was about to leave Pensacola, the State authorities of Florida ordered him to be arrested, and would not let him depart unless upon his parole of honour that he would never take up arms against the State of Florida. The document was duly drawn up and presented to the lieutenant, who accepted it as the only means of escape from imprisonment. Without this document he could not have passed through the State. Senator Crittenden advised Lieut. Jewitt to pro ceed at once to the Secretary of the Navy and report the facts, which he did. What action the Federal authorities will take in relation to the matter was not known. On the 28th ult., the Alabama State Conven tion in secret session adopted resolutions, instruct ing the deputies to the Southern Convention to insist upon such measures as will for ever prevent the reopening of the African slave trade. On the 29th the Convention passed a supple mentary ordinance, authorising the Governor to carry into effect a previous ordinance for the pro tection of the defences in the gulf. The Convention also passed an ordinance adopt ing as the law of Alabama the laws of the United States, relative to patents securing the rights of invention to citizens of all the slave States. The Convention was then adjourned to the 4th March. Captain Meigs, commanding the United States forces on the fort at Tortugas, had despatched to the Government that he was sufficiently reinforced to defy any power. While the Government steamer was landing troops and supplies, the steamer Galveston, of New Orleans, with a force on board to take the fort, ap peared in sight ; but upon discovering the steamer, and probably understanding the object of her visit, did not approach or make any demonstration, other than to put about and disappear. It is also stated that Fort Taylor at Key West is well manned and provisioned. The steamship Northern Light, arrived at New York from Aspinwall on the 25th ult., arrived on Sunday. The news by the Northern Light, from New Grenada, is that Mosquera was within a day's march of the capital. A report that he had been defeated by General Paris, near the city of Neiva, and which was received with great acclamation by the people of Panama, turned out to be utterly untrue. We shall probably hear next time of his entry into Bogota. President Barrios, of Salvador, had paid his promised visit to President Carrera, of Guatemala, and was expected to return to his own capital by the 18th or 20th ult.. It is said that the Government of Costa Rica intends annulling the Chiriqui-Thompson grant, in consequence of the failure on the part of the New York company to pay into the State treasury on the day agreed on a certain stipulated amount. Peru was quiet, though there was still talk of war with Bolivia. Congress had voted the necessary funds to sup ply the port of Paita with fresh water. Garcia Morena, Governor of Guayaquil, was said to have been elected President of Ecuador. Trade at Guayaquil had revived, and that city was now lighted with gas. In Chili the Indians were very troublesome. The continued absence of the Archbishop of Chili was the general source of dissatisfaction, and the Government had refused to pay him his rents. In Valparaiso, South Carolina rice is scarce, and in demand. Exchange on the United States, 13 per cent. premium. The New York Gerald has advices from Porto Cabello, Venezuela, to the Bth ult. The country continued in a very unsettled condition both in foreign and domestic affairs. The accounts from the United States had a most paralyzing effect. The French and English Am bassadors and subjects assumed tones and conse quences heretofore not practised towards the natives. The New York Herald publishes the following despatch dated New Orleans, Feb. 2 :—A mutiny has taken place on board the ship Devonshire, from Liverpool, and the captain and mate are severely wounded. Lady Emily Cavendish comes to town to-day from Brighton. • Colonel the Hon. W. P. and Lady Emma Ta]bot have taken a mansion in Cromwell -road, South Kensing ton, for a term of years. The Hon. Miss Copley is suffering from severe indisposition. Mr, John Foley, M.P., has left the St. George's Hotel. Colonel Pave (aide-de-camp to the Emperor Napoleon) and Madame Faye left the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn-street, yesterday, on their return to Paris. Major Wayland has left the St. George's Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Van Namee and family have arrived at the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn-streaf, from New York. THE LATE COUNTESS OF HADDINGTON.—Thes body of the Countess (Dowager) of Haddington has been removed from Berkeley-square to Tyninghame House, N.B. The funeral is to take place to-morrow. The Weekly Register reports that the health of Cardinal Wiseman continues to progress most satisfactorily. His Eminence was in London in Tuesday, and returned on the same day tO Loyton. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has positively refused to receive a deputation from the hop growers pray ing for a further postponement of the payment of the duty. The letters from Paris mention that the French Government are understpod to have just borrowed a sum equal to £1,000,000 from the Bank of France. The advises from the Continent state that, owing to our high rate of discount, bills on London are in great de raand_at all the principal cities, RUSSIA. A letter from St. Petersburg, dated February 10, says : " The moment is close at hand, and I am happy to announce it, when the emancipation of the serfs will be an accomplished fact. The proclamation will be issued on the 3d of March next, the anni versary of the advent to the throne of Alexander 11., whose reign will be for ever illustrated by this measure of social justice. " Thus more than 20,000,000 of Christian souls will at one and the same hour have ceased to be a property. Yesterday a solemn sitting of the Council of the Empire was held on the subject, and much curiosity and anxiety prevailed to know what it would lead to. There were a thousand different rumours this morning, but during the day well in formed persons have assured me that the date I have above given is that fixed for the act of liberation. The emotion created by this news throughout the - hipire is immense. Since writing the above, I have received the following from so high a quarter that I can guarantee the exactitude thereof with out reserve : "'The Council met at 11 a.m., under the presi dency. of the Emperor. The sitting lasted till half-past 6in the evening. The first 14 articles of the project presented by the high central Com mittee were discussed. "The Emperor addressed the members of the Council, requesting them to speak their minds plainly and without reserve, and declared him wish that all might be terminated on the 3d of March. He said he should not preside again at the Council, but should be informed daily of their decisions. " The Grand Duke Constantine, General Gaga rine, M. Mouravieff, and General Ignatieff also addressed the Council. " The first 14 articles contain only a summary of principles. The discussion, though lively, has as yet only led to one alteration in the project, the annullation of the ' Volostny pravlenie,' agency, communal direction, the members of which were to be elected by the peasants, a power which is to be replaced by the organisation of a signorial magis trature. " The next sitting is fixed for Monday, and the Council will meet four times a week." ASTLEY'S 4111PHITHE.471RE. The withdrawal of the lions having necessarily entailed a change in the programme, the gay and dashing " hippo drama" of "Dick Turpin's Ride to York," a piece which has always been held in great favour by the patrons of this house, has been received with excellent effect ; Mr. Walter Edwin as Dick Turpin, Mr. James Edwin as Timothy Gudgeon, and their accomplished steed as Black Bess, all playing their respective parts in capital style. The pantomime of " Harlequin and the Wonder ful Horse," which Mr. Cuthbert's well-painted scenery, and Miss Emily Scott's lively acting, have contributed to render very attractive, is still received with hearty applause ; and the " Scenes in the Arena" have been cleverly remodelled, with a view to the introduction of some new and expert performers. These attractions, how ever, promise to be of 19ut brief duration, for the public will regret to learn that Mr. Batty has determined to dispose of tke Royal Amphitheatre, and that the whole property will be put up to sale at public auction by Mr. Robins on the 27th inst. For a very long period Mr. Batty managed Astley's with such spirit and success that he realised a large fortune, and several years ago was enabled to retire into private life, from which, on the termination of Mr. W. Cooke's lease, a short time since, he emerged very reluc tantly, and only because he did not wish to see the house closed or occupied by an undesirable tenant. During the ten months that have since elapsed the theatre has done good business, and much praise is due to Mr. Oliver, who has had the general superintendence of the establishment. Mr. Batty, however, is anxious to revert to the repose which, after an active career, ho has fully earned, and he has accordingly resolved to sell his theatre. It is to be hoped that the establishment will now pass into the hands of some enterprising person who will respect the specialite of the house, and devote the edifice to the same purposes to which it has been from time immemorial applied. But it would indeed be strange if London, with its three millions of inhabitants, could not support one place of entertainment where the public might gratify that fondness for horses, horsemanship, and manly sports, which has ever been dis tinctive of our national character. The cycle of London amusements would scarcely be complete without Astley's Royal Amphitheatre of Arts, the only Arena of Equitation, and National Temple of Equestrian, Gymnastic, and Dra matic novelties in Europe ; and as the establishment has made the fortunes of several managers—Astley, Ducrow, Cooke, and Batty in the number—there is no reason why it should not, if properly conducted, prove equally remunera tive to their successors. THE CONVICT PRISON AT CHATHAM.—An order from the Home Office was received on Saturday, by Cap tain Powell, the governor of the convict establishment, for the immediate discharge of four principal and six subordi nate warders. This order has caused considerable con sternation among the officials, as no reason is assigned for their dismissal. The order was peremptorily carried into effect, and the officers were all discharged before twelve o'clock. The ten warders who have been dismissed are to remain in their quarters and draw their pay and rations until an order from the Home Office arrives for awarding the pensions, according to the length of service. The number of the warders at the pri son is 134, and the civil guard of the prison consists of one superintendent, two sergeants, and '22 privates ; whether the number of warders is to be increased is not yet known. Captain Gambier, director of convict prisons, will arrive at Chatham for the purpose of trying 70 of the worst charac ters, who took a prominent part in the recent outbreaks. It is understood to be the intention of the Home Office to alter the interior regulation of the prisons, making the rules snore stringent, and investing the governor with more power than he at present possesses. It is alleged that order will never be restored until the chief warder is removed from the establishment. It is an admitted fact that the convicts have for the last twelve months been too leniently dealt with, and pampered up, and the leniency thus shown to these ruffians caused the out break. Captain Powell, no doubt, is a good officer, but he has not that firmness to carry out the strict discipline necessary to command obedience in a prison like Chatham. The late Governor (Captain Buller) would not allow any of his officers to be crippled in their authority, neither would he permit anything to pass without strictly inquiring into the matter brought before him. By such a course of action he had full command over the convicts, and prompt obedience was paid to his authority for the three years and a half he was in command, and there was not a single attempt at an outbreak,