The Sun. — London, England, 1856-12-31 00:00:00

i . .-- .P* FEDERAL COUNCIL ,bF 1 itEPORT O,MTZERLE -ON THE AFFAIR OF NEUF - CffATEL. _ • The following is the message or report, of the Federal Council of Switzerland, whip as laid be fore the Federal Assembly when it at Berne on Saturday last A it • Honoured Sirs,—The first time yott deal with the affair of the canton of Neuchatel ( ur sitting of the 26th Sept. last), you adopted, amo situ resolu• tions, one by which you approved of thenduct which the Federal Council had pursued in that affair;•ati, d you invited ns to persevere in the same course, In our message of Sept. 23, we indicated the startit point from which diplomatic negotiations might be com menced, by declaring that such negotiations ought to have it for their ultimate object to preserve the canton of Neuchatel completely independent of any foreign claim. By the resolution which you adopted, you ex pressed your assent to that view of the question which had just been laid before you, and we could not but find an encouragement therein to follow the same course which we had so far adopted, and to make it the rule of our conduct for the future. Let us now review in detail the negotiations which have been carried on since the month of September, and present you with an historical outline of the different phases which the Neuchatel question has exhibited. Immediately after the 30th Sept. the French Legation made a verbal communication to our President that it had been charged by its sovereign to express a hope that the Neuchatel prisoners would be released. It was added that if this desire were complied with, the Emperor of the French, who was animated by the most friendly send silents towards Switzerland, thought he should be able to contribute to a happy solution of the question, in the con ferences of the great powers which were about to be opened ; that in the contrary case, Switzerland would have to expect serious complications ; that Prussia was pro jecting military preparations ; that the other German Powers might agree to support Prussia, and to grant her a passage through their territory, so that it might happen that our frontiers should be invaded, in a little while, by a numerous military force. A. verbal reply was made to the French Legation that the Federal Council acknowledged and appreciated, at their just value, the friendly sentiments of the Emperor of the French towards Switzerland ; that it was ready to propose to the Legislative Councils an amnesty for the Neuchatel insurgents, provided it could, at the same time, regard as certain the solution of the main question in the sense of the independence of Neuchatel of every foreign claim ; that the Federal Council, fot its own part, would on no account hesitate to take into conside ration any propositions conceived in that sense, and that it would be very greatly obliged to his Majesty the Em peror of the French if he would please to employ his good offices to that effect. The Austi:an and Russian Legations also demanded the immediate release of the Neuchatel prisoners without conditions. We could not, however, give the ministers of those two powers any other reply than that we had already made to the French Legation. On the other hand, the Legation of her Britannic Majesty thought it was its duty to interfere, and offer the Confederation its good offices. The English minister asked, in the name of his Government, whether the differences which had. arisen between Switzerland and Prussia, with reference to the Neuchatel question, might not be smoothed over by France and England, if those powers were to propose simultaneou-dy to both parties the conditions by means of which the question could be ettled in an honourable manner. In case this question was answered in the affirmative, the English minister begged the Federal Council to state precisely the conditions which it would be disposed to accept. An answer was returned on the 31 of October, that the Federal Council was ready to receive the overtures which might be made to it upon the Neuchatel question, provided that they took for their basis the absolute independence of the canton of Neuchatel from any foreign claim ; that as soon as that basis should be gua ranteed, the Federal Council would have no difficulty in proposing to the Legislative Councils the amnesty of the Neuchatel insurgents, and that it would be under the greatest obligation to the Government of her Dritannic Majesty if the latter would please to employ its good offices for that object. As the overtures made to us by the French Legation led us to presume that the Neuchatel quesion might be discussed together with the treaty of Paris of March 30, we expressed, as well to France as to England, our opinion that if the affair of Neuchatel were to ue treated of by the Congress, it would be just that S.ei zerland should be represented there upon this question; and that this was the more reasonable, because, while tie adver:e party wo►:ld take part in the conferences . , it could not be expected that the Confederation should acknowledge as obligatory resolutions adopted with;ut her concurrence. We did not receive ary precise a;;Swer upon that point; the French Minister however gave 116 t o understand that he thought the demand of the Federal Council was a very natural one, to have Switzerland represented in the con erences, and that France would have no objection to make to it. In the course of October tlie:A.ff-iir seenaedabcut to enter a phasis favourable to Switzerland, thanks to the hene• volent efforts of the English Government. On the 25th of the said month the British Legation asked whether the Federal Council would consent to the immediate liberation .of the Neuchatel prisoners in case the Sing of Prussia would give to France and England the confiden tial assurance that he would renounce his claims to the sovereignty of Neuchatel on the following conditions :- 1. That be should continue 0 bear the title of Prir.ce of Neuchatel. _ . 2. That he should remain in possession of all his pri vate property is the canton of Neuchatel. 3, That certain religious and charitable establishments in which the King took a lively interest should be placed beyond all harm. The reply which we made to that verbal note is dated 29th October. We commenced by expressing our thanks to the Bri tish Government for the kind interest it had manifested in the Neuchatel question, a 3 well as for the friendly disposition it had displayed. We declared ourselves disposed, so much as it depended upon us, after having received the adhesion of the Government of Neuchatel to the overtures which had been made, to accept the points indicated by the English Government as the basis of a negotiation and settlement with the King of Prussia. With a view to provide the British Government with more ample information we thought fit to add the fol lowing observations : 1. According to the positive declaration of the Govern ment of Neuchatel the latter is not aware that the King of Prussia has any private property in the canton of Neuchatel. Supposing, however, that such were the ease, that property should be respected the same as any ether private property. As regards the domains, dues, and revenues which the King possessed in his quality of sovereign of the coun try, they could not come unite, the head of private pro perty. In case of an agreement, to prevent all misun derstanding, it will be necessary to specify what private property belonged to the King. 2. The Government of Neuchatel recognises the reli gions and charitable foundations , Pavticularly those of Ponrtales, Meuron, Puy, and others, established by private gifts. These establishments, *M others analo gous to them, shall be religiously respected. Upon this point the Government of Neuc hatel agret, with the Federal Council, and both are disposed to give the King of Prussia the most satisfactory assurances abontit. In order, however, to place the emancipation of Ne u chatel beyond all foreign influence a guarantee upon this Point must originate exclusively with the Confederation. It was added, lastly, that in order to prevent any milt take the religious and charitable foundations to be corn. prised within this guarantee should be distinctly speci fied. These propositions of mediation, dictated by a• senti ment of friendship towards Switzerland, did not, how ever, lead to any result ; the English Government itself having subsequently considered that it would be better not to open them to the court of Berlin, seeing that re fusal to enter into any negotiations—which was to be expected—could not but be injurious to Switzerland. In the hope that France and England might be more easily induced to propound a collective propoeiticn, we on our side did not think it any longer incumbent upon us to insist on the communication of the above proposi tone to Prussia through the medium of Eng,/'and, and our opinion was strengthened by the fact that the affair had entered into a new phase. His Majesty the Emperor of the French bad, under date of October 24, addressed himself directly to General Dufour with the friendly intention of calling his atten tion to the n . seons situation in which Switzerland was pieced. 1 :1:3-) Emperor at tile same time invited the General to i v,slst him in smoothing the difficulties and removing the dangers with which' Switzerland was ,hreatened, a dding that the King of Prussia did not recognise Switzerlan da alleged right to change, without his consent, the constitutio n of Neuchatel, and believed that his honour was concerned in sustaining those who had desired to re-establish the old order of things. The idea of seeing his partians snbjected to trial was revolt ing to him to such a degree that he was frilly resolved on upholding his right by arms, and on applying to the Germanic Diet in order to (attain a passage for is troops. The Emperor declared himself disposed to prevent Prussia from sending troops, and engaged to arrange the Neuchatel affair in a manner satisfactory to Switzer- land, if Switzerland, on its part, would exhibit a little good-will and a little confi dence in the Emperer. "Hither- 3 to the Emperor had prevented the King of Prui- , sia from directly demanding from the Federal Council the libera tion of the prisoners, because, refusal being probable, an arrang ement wouldklien h a ve been no longer possible. But if Switzerland were to set the- . irisoners at liberty at the formal request of the Em.:`. , and as it iona were consign the fate of Neuchat el toti- hands, the natl self-esteem would be preserv ed intact, and the affair would be settled ; if, on the contrary, Switzerland should reject these proposals without taking acCOunf'of the Emperor's advice, the Emperor would leave ;Afters to F ettle themselves as they c ould, and would not offer any impedimentto the concentrat r o n of an army in the Grand Duchy oqAlen. These overarm of the Emperor, w hieh were commu ki nicated to us by,gepikal Dufour , appeared to be of a nature to require an answer, which the hon. general transmitted verbally in his, capacity of envoy extraor .----- France upon an essential point ; the former in fact never bad recomrnetiti , 44l, or wi'bed to recommend, I tr the preliminai I , dmuc n lifi.. - al liberation of the pri soners. So ear tag, 'i November our diplomatic representative 'at ! ariVia e ... us a communication to the effect tApt, even were. . ; • -ing.of Prussia disposed to renou4eihis.claitns Cur Neuchatel, it 'would be diffi cult to obtain such a promise upon the recommendation of the two powers. He added that it was doittful whe. ther the: king could be induced to specify hiedition as categorically as Switzerland demanded. Upon cur side, we thought ourselves boi that, if the Emperor could not formally guarantee the renunciation of the claim of thil.':. Pmssia, England and France should at least decla l' r tlOywithdrew their adhesion to the protoceof LA . .64 in can of the King of Prussia still showing .himself dea , to counsels of those powers. We shall return presently to state the definitive resul 4 ") of the negotiations.; ened at Paris. We have now to inform you of anoth 6 isode in this lon g contest. The Envoy Extro„dinary and Minister Plenipoten tiary of the King ofhussia here asked and obtained, on the 19th November, an audience of the President of the Confederation, and made, in the name of his Sovereign, a ver bal proposal, expressed nearly in these terms. " The King requires the preliminary and unconditional release of the prisoners detained at Neuchatel, as well as that their persons and property shall be placed in safety. This preliminary being performed, the King declares him. self ready to enter into negotiations. He relies the more upon this demand being complied with, since in abstain ing since 1848 from pursuing his rightful claims, he has exhibited great moderation. If the Federal Council re fuses to subscribe to this demand, the King reserves it to himself to take ulterior measures." Monsieur the Envoy alleged that he had no authority to give us a written copy of this note. On the same day the envoys of Austria, Bavaria, and B a jen, presented themselves to support the declaration of the Prussian legation, in accordance with the orders which they bad received from their governments. On November 21 we authorised our president to re ply verbally, ao follows, to the Prussian envoy, upon the subject of his a eclaration of the 19th. "That the Federal C o ancil do not admit the King of Prussia's demand to release the prisoners before trial, and without conditions ; but that for the rest, the Fede ral Council was equally ready to enter into negotiations to attempt to come to a pacific settlement of the dispute relative to Neuchatel." The President was charged, moreover, to inform the representatives of the other German States of this an swer, in the same form—that is, verbally; and to add, that the Federal Council appreciates the neighbourly assurances expressed by the German Diet upon the oc casion of making these proposals • and that with regard to the question at issue the Federal Council is animated by the same sentiments. .:he remainder of this important document is re served for a future publication.] insist THE SAMARITAN INSTITUTION. 1 I UL:N EkV it Yesterday afternoon Mr. S. L. •d'aeke Barber, the manager of the Samaritan Institution, Victoria-street, in the city of London, again appeared at the Guilahall, before S:r R. W. Carden, to answer the charge 3 which have been preferred against him of misappropriating certain charitable contributions which had beeu entmsted to him for the benefit of poor persons, whom thi.i4titu tion professed to benefit, From the London Gazette of Last Night. At the Court of Windsor, the 29th day of Dr Member, 1856, present—The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Her Majesty having been pleased to appoint the Right Hon. Charles Crespigny, Lord Vivian, to be Lord Lieutenant and Custos Itotulorum of the county of Corn wall, he this day took the oaths appointed to be taken thereupon, instead of the oaths of allegiance and supre macy. Mr. Sleigh, the barrister, who appeared for the prose • tion, said he intended to call further evidence, which a • ght would warrant the Alderman in hold- Barber to bail to answer any charge that might ireferred against him at the Central Criminal Court. : ei wished to say that since the last inquiry he had re ceived a large number of letters from gentlemen whose names bad been published as vice-presidents of the insti tution, disclaiming any connection with the society. The learned gentleman produced a formidable bundle of letters, but Mr. Horsley, who appeared for Mr. Barber, objected to their being read, and Mr. Sleigh gave way, after making a most humorous speech on the character of the evidence he intended to adduce. THE SUN, LONDON; WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 81, 1856 found the youngest child I found a woman's night-dress, r:11 The prim - mer " T not (7) it;z, Jr. . . Mr. Eiiiott —Was this all she said respecting the death of her children ? Witness—Yes, i Sr; I don't recollect h er say i ng any thing else ; but the fact was that there was something the matter with her mind, and I avoided talking to her. Mrs. Harriett Payne, the wife of William Payne, of Anglesea-street, Waterloo New-town, Stepney, said—l know the prisoner, and she is married to my nephew, who is a whitesmith and bell hanger by trade. On Sun. day evening last she and her husband came to my place to ask my daughter to come and stop a week with the prisoner, as her husband was going to work at Reigate the nes' morning, and would not be home until Saturday night. I told them my daughter should come, but as she had some things to take to the warehouse she could not be with prisoner until late. My daughter left home for the purpose, and called at prisoner's house, but though she knccked repeatedly she could not make any one hear her; and she was obliged to return. Not getting home before 11 o'clock, and when told she could not get an entrance into the house, I became very much alarmed, so much so that had it not been so very late I should have gone to her house on that night. This morning I went to her house, but before searching it I saw the prisoner, who said she had been to pay her rent. I then asked her where she had been all night, as my daughter could not get in on knocking, and she said, " I have been in ,the house ; a man h as b een i n an d mur d ere d the two children, and cut my throat as well." The prisoner then unlocked the door, and on my going into the back parlour I saw the eldest child sitting in a, chair quite dead. The prisoner mentioned to me that she had been quite insensible all night. I was much shocked at seeing the child, and I thought the best ` way was to come to the station-house. Mr. Elliott.—Did you observe anything particular 1 about the prisoner on the Sunday evening when she called on you with her husband ? Names of Companies. Ashtn &Oldh Birmingham Covenizy.. • • Derby .. • • • • GrandJunctn Do., 6 pr. Ct. Grand Union Kennt & Ave Leeds &Livrp Leicester Lcicstr &Ntb Loughborogh Macclesfield. Neath 0xf0rd...... Dividend per , A Annum. 98 71. p. ct. 40 4/: 100 11/. 100 6/. 15s. (00 U. pr. ct. 10 6/. pr. ct. 100 7s. 6d . 40 63. 100 251. 100 5/. 83 11.55. 143 701 100 21. 10s. 100 161. 1100 Name of Company. Berlin East London Do. 4 per C ent Pref. Do. 5 per Cent Pref. Grand Junction Witness.—l cannot say I did observe anything strange. Mr. John Bushell, surgeon, of Kennington-lane, said, on this afternoon, between 1 and 2 o'clock, I was called in to attend the prisoner, who I found at the station house. On examining her I found a leng skin wound on her throat, not at all of a dangerous character, though it might have bled a good deal, and five or six other wounds of a small description above it. When I first saw her I asked her how she was, and she answered " Very poorly," and I then asked her to let me look at her throat. On finding the wounds I asked her how they were done, and she replied that a man got in at the window on the night before, at 8 o'clock, and did it, and also cut the throats of her two children. Having dressed her wounds I accompanied the prisoner, the last witness, and the constable to the h o u se , N o . 4, Acre-street, anl there found, as the constable described, in the back par lour the eldest child sitting in an easy chair with his head leaning forward on a table placed in front of him quite dead and cold. I made a hasty exarnivation of the body, and found the little fellow's throat cut from ear to ear, the windpipe and all the principal blood vessels severed, Sc, that death must have been instan taneous. Do. New ...... Lambeth ..... . • • • • .. New River Company.. 'Southwark & Vauxhall West Middlesex • • • • .. Do. Do, ..... Name of Company. Ilutrreebrd •• •• •• Southwark .......... Ditto New of 7% p,c. Waterloo ..... .... •• Ditto Old Ann. of 81. Ditto .I.+l'w ditto of 7/. Vauxhall ............ GAS-LIG: Name of Company. British Provincial .• •• Brighton •• •• •• •• •• City of London .. •• •• Equitable., •• •• European .... .•• •• Great Central Imperial Ditto New Ditto Debentures Do. Continental I st Cap Do. Do. 2d Cap Do. Do. 3d Cap Do. Do. 4th Cap Independent Condon Pail. Preferen Phoenix . •• ••, •• •• •• Rateliff •• •• • •• •• •• Su.'rey Consumers .' United General •• Westminster Chartered Ditto, New .... •• •• Western A Ditto B Mr. Elliott—Was it your opinion that the act had been committed where the child was fowad ? Mr. Bushell—Oh, yes 1 from the quantity of blood there can be no doubt of it. I next went up stairs, and f -d thr lying on the floor, face down ts' throat cut in a very deter te State of the room it appeared not been made on the Monday In that the younger child had Id its throat cut on the floor !d the nightdress of a woman IN?,1 Name of Company. .PRICER OF SHARES, Price.l Names of Companies. Peak Forest. Regerat's•• Rochdale.... Stftrd &Won Stourbridge., Severn and Wye Rail.s Warwick & Birming. Warwick &I Napton.. Worestr & Binning. Wilts & Brks 103 51. per cit. 6i. per cnt. 4/. per cent. 5/. per cent. C. per wit. Si. per •ent. 41. per cent. BRIDG: Dividend per Annum. 103 per cent.) 11. 12s. Od. U. 88. Od. 288. LT AND CO] Dividend per Annum. 71. per cent. 51. per cent. 21. per cent. Amount of Share. s. d. 10 0 0 Stock. 25 0 0 25 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 it. 10s, 51. per cent. 81. per cent 101. per cent, 31. 4/.158. 41. 103. 100 0 0 61 0 0 5 1 8 Amount Dividend per Annum Slaa:e. 5/. Os. 17s 7s. Od. •s. d. 25 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 60 0 0 40 0 0 70 10 3 COMP. Amount of Share. X s. d. 20 0 0 20 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 1 23 0 0 10 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 Stock 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 40 0 0 25 0 0 60 0 0 20 0 0 10 0 0 50 0 0 59 0 0 50 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 Paid. X s. d. 100 all Paid. X a. d. Paid. Z s. d. all 61. per cent. 5/. per cent. 5/. 8/. per cent. 13s 6d per sh. 6; eer cent. 'ANIES. Amount of Share. Paid. drew beer from; found the younger child 13 wards, quite . -•• . 'and itf 3d took the m up ...... e poor who came mind ma th e :r.) Before thal4 ' n '' ed by. 13 •. .., pinion . ion i - s o ; i. - •'. bed an, the is-house t lay. I obs erve , ' • oilik t tapped. During lying on the bed in the roi ... ' . dinary. We considered that form to be the most becoming for the recognition of those friendly sentereaftwhich his Majesty the Emperor of the'French had manifested to wards S w it z erland upon this occasion, and that it: was a favourable opportunity for giving more explicit explana tions respecting the position that Sw-itzerlanc must assume. M. Dufour took 9harge of this mission with biausual patriotic devotion, any the hon. 'general acquitted him self of the task in a most eionscientious and meritoriouwere s man ner. The instructions ; :iven to the general substantially conceived as follow; tt The General will above all explain to the Emperor that the Federal Council has fully appreeiated the in terest evinced by the Emperor in Switzerland, as well a s the efforts he is making with a view to effect a seta -1 tion of the Neuchatel question, and that it is grateful to his Majesty for this. "Nevertheless, the Federal Council regrets that it is unable to comply with the Emperor's wish, so far as it concerns the immediate liberation of the prisoners ; on the contrary, the Federal Council must adhere to those bases which at the initiative of England it has commu nicated to the British Cabinet, and which it has else made known to the French Government." • In support of this mode of viewing the questien at issue, the following points were brought more promi nently into relief : Supposing even that the King of Prussia had any rights over Neuchatel, Switzerland has some likewise, especially with regard to the authors of the late insur rection. To demand of her that she should proclaim an amnesty without obtaining simultaneously from the King of Prussia the assurance of some compensation, would be to misapprehend the position of the two parties, to the disadvantage of Switzerland, and to ex pect of the latter that she should desist from her right of jurisdiction over acts committed in her territory, and consequently that she should renounce her sovereignty. If the King of Prussia believes his honour to be at stake on this question it must not be forgotten also that Switzerland has likewise to maintain intact her honour and esteem in the eyes of the world. It is not to her that can be imputed those causes which led to the changes of 1848 ; she cannot be made responsible for the culpable enterprise which recently took place against the order of things existing in the canton of Neuchatel and the Con federation. To require of her that she should expunge the consequences resulting from that culpable act, with out offering her at the same time an equivalent compen sation, would be tantamount to treating her as guilty of au injustice, and compelling her to accept as a matter of favour only what might be subsequently offered to her. A satisfaction of this kind is the more inadmissible, seeing that the King of Prussia claims the amnesty as a right, and accompanies his demand with threats. Be sides, the confidential circular of Prussia to the States of the German Diet, under date of Sept. 29, already made Mention of serious measures in case of non-com pliance with the demand of the liberation of the prisoners. In this state of things an amnesty without compensa tion would no longer be looked upon by the world as a spontaneous act of generosity, but as an act enforced by fear. The Federal Council puts the most entire faith in the assurance of the Emperor, which state that, in case of the immediate liberation of the prisoners, he would un dertake to procure a solution of the question to Switz erland's advantage. But the Council cannot entertain tile same confidence in the intentions of the King of Prussia, in the face of the above-menticned circular addressed by Prussia to the States of the German Diet, and in which it is clearly given to be understood that the liberation of the prisoners would only be a first con quest or concession. Switzerland is right in asking her self what then would be her position if, after the Jibe. rati"n required, the renunciation of the rights which are set up should not take pace, or if the King should not choose to pronounce it save on conditions not acceptable or onerous to Switzerland ; or if the King of Prussia should still persist, afterwards as well as before, in main taining the status ab ante in the expectation of more favourable European conjunctures. If, in return for the previous amnesty of the prisoners, we have a renunciation or an arrangement to Switzer land's advantage held out to us, it behoves the Confede ration to know, before everything else, what special con ditions will be created by such a renunciation. The following points are indicated as the chief bases which might serve for an arrangement : There must be no reservation implying any dependence on a foreign power. There must he no reservation carrying with it any restriction affecting legislation or administration of int: mai affairs. We gave it to be understood, moreover, that we required to know belorehand whether the King of Peussia means to append any fiLancial condition to the plan of arrangement, and It so what this condition is ; whether it is conceived toot the amnesty is to comprise, indepen dently of the remission of penalties, a remission ales of the costs, and in what proportion. It has appeared the more necessary to direct attention to this subject, seeing that the negotiations might break down subsequently at the points where these and other analogous points would occur, and that the King might take advantage of them to refuse all renunciation and all arrangement. This is why it has, appeared absolutely indispensable,fcr S wi'z.,rland that these conditions should be clearly laid down beforehand, if she does not wish to expose herself to the risk of being dependent on the good-will of the adverse party, when once the amnesty shall have been proclaimed. Now, a renunciation upon such bases, when it is posi tively determined on, ought to be officially declared by the King of Prussia at the same time that the am• hesty is declared by Switzerland, or, at all events, it is requisite to give for this renunciation the assurances and guarantees required in the communication lately made to the English and French cabinets, or, in short, some assurances and guarantees of corresponding effect. Such a basis being wanting, the Federal Council would find itself unable to submit the proposal of an amnesty to the Legislative Councils. It would be unable to present for that measure any political and judicial motive wherewith to meet the feeling unanimously displayed at the last session of the Council's, aid which the latest acts of Prussia are not calculated to diminish. Such a proposal woula be sure to be rejected in the most peremptory manner. You have learned, Mr. President and gentlemen, from the public papers the reception—so friendly with regard to Switzerland and its envoy extraordinary--which has been given to General Dufour on the part of his Majesty. the Emperor of the French. In the private interviews between them our delegate succeeded in his efforts to set aside certain points which had threatened a consider aWe complication of the difficulties. In conferences with the ministers of France and Eng land, it was provisionally understood that France and England would require, without precisely guaranteeing it, that the liberation of Neuchatel from every foreign claim should be considered as the equivalent of an am nesty previously granted, and that a renunciation on the part of Prussia might accordingly be considered as toler ably certain. Nevertheless, the English cabinet, from motives that will hereafter be explained, did not deem it right to ac cede to these collective measures against Switzerland, and it appeared at the time that the plan discussed at the Conferences could not be realised, or at least not such as it had been understood at the beginning by our en voy ; but if once the negotiations should have reached that point, we thought we should be able, without lowering the dignity of Switzerland, to advance another step in the path of conciliation. Yon remember, Mr. President and gentlemen, that in the instructions pre-' sented to our envoy extraordinary, it was stated, that if the guarantee required, as mentioned in our communi cations to the English and French cabinets, could not be obtained, assurances and guarantees of corresponding value would be accepted. Moved by this consideratior, we authorised our envoy to enter into negotiations on this third kind of assur ances, having a corresponding value. On this subject, we shall observe that we were bound to place a high value on the fact of the two powers (England and France) acting in concert, and on the fact that the assurance required would not emanate from one of those two powers alone. It was not necessary, in onr opinion, that their note itself should require or recom mend the amnesty, but it should fully acknowledge the right of a free determination on the part of Switzerland, by declaring, for instance, that if the Confederation liberated the prisoners, England and France would un dertake to use their efforts for obtaining a renunciation on the part of the King of Prussia. The mere assurance of good offices given in a vague M an ner could not satisfy us. It was necessary at the least to express that France and England would engage to nnd bringsgwi about such a transaction as should not im p ose on Switzerland conditions incompatible with her honour and dignity, and that if Prussia did not consent to such di an arrangement, England and France would declare that they believed themselves to be no longer bound by the Londoo protocol, and that they were unwilling to per mit that Prueeia should make an attack against Swit zerland upon the ground of her claims on Neuchatel, or generally to permit that she should take hostile measures against the Confederation. We drew up the instructions within these limits, leay. ing, however, to our envoythe power of choosing cr adopting other forms. If we communicate to you all these details, it is espe=cially with the view of proving to to you that we did no t wish to exclude our s e lves from the path of conciliation by over -scrupulous difficulties, but that, on the coo trery, we were ready to make every concession consistent with our dinette towarle the Swiss nation and its representatives. We declared solemnly at that period, that is to say, on the 17th of November, that we were ready to assist in effecting an y arrange ment calculated to attain our object—the recognition of the independence of Neuchatel—tee instant we could do so in a form and manner that would compromise in no respect the dignity and honour of Switzerland. Our envoy extraordinary united his efforts to those of our resident minister at Paris for the purpose of obtain. ing a unity of views on the main question between France and England. It did not appear probable that this ob ject could be attained, since England disagreed with WHITEHALL, DEC. 29. The Queen has bean pleased to direct letters patent to be passed undsr the Great Seal, appointing Samael Gale, Esq. ; John Southerden Burn, Esq. ; George Graham, Esq. ; Robert Lush, Esq •, Barrister-at-Law ; William Palmer Parken, Esq., Barrister-at-Law ; Horace Mann, Esq., Barrister-at-law; and Hull Terrell, Esq., to be her Majesty's Commissioners for the purpose of inquiring into the state, custody, and authenticity of certain non parochial registers of births or baptisms, deaths or burials, and marriages in England and wales. FOREIGN-OFFICE, DEC. 27. The Queen has been pleased to apnrovo of Mr, Frederick Arend Ebbeke as Consul at rangston, Ja maica, for the Frce Hanseatic City of Hamburgh. CROWN-OFFICE, DEC. 29. MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN TUE PRESENT PARLIAMENT. County of Suffolk, Eastern Division.—The Right Hon. John Henniker Major Lord Henniker, in the room of Sir Edward Sherlock Gooch, Bart., deceased. BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, DEC. 30. The Right Honourable the: Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a despatch from her Majesty's Minister at Lisbon, transmitting copy of a recent Portuguese Royal Decree, fixing as follows the import duties upon the undermen tioned articles:- 1. Foreign maize to come under provisions of Articles 1 awl 2 of Law of 3d 'July; 1856, i.e., payment of 20 reis per alquiere. 2. Foreign salt to pay 10 reis per 100 lbs. 3. Foreign oil to pay 1,200 reis per 100 lbs. 5. Vesssels importing full cargoes of cereals will bo exempted front payment of tonnage dues ; and vessels importing part cargoes of cereals will be exempted from tonnage dues in proportion to the quantity. The provisions of the Decree are to continue in force until the end of June, 1857. VAR-DEPARTMENT, PALL-MALL, DEC. 30. Royal Artillery--Lient.-General William Greenshields Power, C. 8., to be Colonel-Commandant, vice General the Hon • . Wm. Henry Gardner, deceased. WAR DEPARTMENT, P A LL-M A LL, DEC. 30. 46th Foot—The Christian name of Mr. Abbott, who was permitted to resilm his commission as Ensign on the 12th inst., is John, and not William, as previously stated. COMMISSION SIGNED BY LORD-LIEUTENANT. Northumberland Regiment of Militia Artillery—Wm. Barras, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant. BANKRUPTCIES ANNULLED. Maria Kayo, hosier, Tottenham-court road. Thomas Craven, bulkier, Birmingham. BANKRUPTS. William Hartz, commission agent, Fenchurch-street, City, to surrender Jan. 15, at one, and Feb. 16, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Nicholson, official assignee, Basinghall-street; King and George, King-street, Cheap side. William Ring, eating-house keeper, Paddington-street, St. Marylebone, Jan. 13, at one, and Feb. 10, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Lee, official assignee, Alder manbury ; Wood and France, Falcon-street. Farebrother, Bremner, and Co., oil merchants, Jan. 13, at two, and Feb. 10, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Sambrook-court ; Lawrence, Plews, and Boyer, Old Jewry-chambers. John Birch, maltster, Old Swinford, Jan. 12, at half past ten, and Feb. 2, at ten, at the Birmingham District Court. Bittleston, official assignee, Birmingham ; Plun kett, Westbrcmwich: Knight, Birmingham. Rice Harris and Rice Wm. Harris, alkali manufactur ers, Birmingham, Jan. 16 and Feb. 6, at half-past eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham; James, Birmingham. Peter Edwin Henderson, civil engineer, Cannon-street, City, Jan. 7, at two, and Feb. 16, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee, Guildhall-cham bers; Ashley and Tee, Old Jewry. James Glover, publican, Thames Ditton, Jan 7, at twelve, and Feb. 10, at half-past twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Strvesfeld, official assignee ; Harrison and Lewis, New Boswell-court. John B.ennard, ironmonger, Little Queen-street, Hol born, Jan. 8, at two, and Feb. 12, at twelve, at the Com t of Bankruptcy. Johnson, offiend assignee, Basinghall street ; Moseley, Taylor, and rilo:eley, Bedford-street, Co ven t-garden- William Ffitch, licensed victualler, Great Warley, Essex, Jan. 10, at twelve, and Feb. .3, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Lee, cfficial assignee, Aldermanbury ; Ch idley, Basiughall-street. William Smith, builder, Halosowen, Worcestershire, Jan. 16, and Feb. 6, at half-past eleven, at the Birming ham District Court. Christie, official assignee, Birming ham ; Hodgson and Allen, Birmingham. Thomas hiardacre, draper, Settle, Yorkshire, Jan. 16, and Feb. 20, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Young, official assignee, Leeds; Hartley, Settle; Barr and Nelson, Leeds. Matthew Smith, steel manufacturer, Sheffield, Jan. 17, and Feb. 21, at ten, at the Council-hail; Sheffield. Brewin, official assignee, Sheffield ; Fretson, Sheffield. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. Alexander Petrie, innkeeper, Blairgowrie, Andrew Roy, carrier, Partick. Alexander Manson, grocer, Golspie, Sutherlandshire. Alexander Drew, contractor, Whiteincb, near Glasgow. Robert Sutherland Ross, merchant, re_s_iding in New York, a partner of the Company of John Munro and Co., Ingram-street, Glasgow. Peter Reid, cattle dealer, Greenyards, near Bannock burn. Matthew Barr, draper, Paisley. CBEDITON.—MILDNESS OP THE CLIMATE or DEVON. SHIRE.—Up to the last days of November roses of various hues were in full bloom in many gardens in this town and neighbourhood ; and on Saturday, the 20th inst., a person of this place caught a butterfly of the tortoiseshell genus, which is still alive. On the se: day a white butterfly was seen, strong on the wing, a, Chittlehambolt, twenty miles further north. RELIGION IN SIAM.—The Moniteur de la Flotte gives the following account of the religious practices of the Siamese —" The dominant religion of the inhabitants is Bhudhism, accompanied with curious practices. They worship white elephants, which are found in large num bers in the forests of the south. One of these animals, which is considered the representative of Bhudha on earth, posseses a very handsome temple and palace at Bangkok. The French sailors in the vessels which ac companied M. de Montigny have been admitted, as a special favour, to visit this mysterious dwelling, and were accompanied by the chief of the priests. The animal almost appears to understand the sacred character which has been conferred on him by the ignorance of the population, and he is of extraordinary gravity and dignity. Above his knees are large golden rings encrusted with precious stones, and his head is orframented with a magnificent dia dem of pearls and diawonds of price. Every morning at daybreak he appears on the threshold of his temple, and gives the sign of prayer by raising to the sky his trunk, which is covered with gilding. So true is his instinct that he never misses this ceremony. Although the Siamese people are of a gentle character, they at times carry their fanaticism to cruelty. In the summer of 1353 the sacred elephant died, and this event being attributed by popular rumour to want of attention on the part of the high priest, the life of the latter was demanded by the enraged populace, and with great difficulty pre served." REWARD OF VALOUR.—Patrick Sheehan, a fine athletic healthy-looking man of 24 years cf age, who was born and bred in Ennistymon, io the county of Clare, who , e ssueraveerdedininher the Mtrfejneeshtyes of 'sB2sd eb? man—received a wound in the arm on that memorable occasion, and who lost his si g ht in the service of his R e gimentitop ol—fought of h F t o at Foot—who igvrho. country, has returned home stone blind, and has received the reward of his valour—as consideration for his wounds, and as a reCompence for his sufferings and his loss of sight, the munificent pension of 6d. per diem for six months I !_Limerick Reporter. RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. LONDON AND SOUTH-EASTEM RAlLWAY.—Traffic Vl tava for the week ending Dec. 27,1853 £18,609 8 9 Corresponding week last year 18,036 5 7 Increase in 1856 LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. — Traffic return for the week ending Dec. 27, 1856 £12,752 2 9 Corresponding week last year 11,073 15 10 Total of the half-year to this date, 1856 129,738 18 11 Total of the half-year to this date, 1855 402,423 16 9 GREAT LUXEMBOURG RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for the week ending Dec. 28, 1856 £697 14 9 M. Ziegler, historical painter, has just expired in Paris, Amongst other works, the deceased painted the altar piece of the Madeleine. THE QUEEN AND SIR R. PEEL.—PeeI requested that the principal offices in the Royal household might be placed at his disposal. It was not, as it would appear, with Sir Robert, but with the Duke of Wellington himself, that the idea of making this request first originated. The young Queen was shocked at it ; it was, the Whigs told her, an exorbitant pretension, utterly unauthorised by precedent. It was added that the great ladies of the Conservative party had spoken of it as of a triumph over the Queen, and had said that when they composed her Court they would be better able to restrain her within constitutional limits than the Whigs had been. Im pertinence is sometimes a useful weapon, but more frequently it is a dangerous pleasure. On the day after Sir Robert had made 'his demand, he received from the Queen the following note :—" The Queen having considered the proposal made to her yes terday by Sir Robert Peel to remove the ladies of her bed-chamber; cannot consent to adopt a course which she conceives to be contrary to usage, and which is repugnant to her feelings." Sir Robert replied in a long and respectful letter, sensible and constitutionally true, but rather heavy and as devoid of elegance as of complaisance. He was evidently better suited to a Par liament than to a Court. The negotiation was broken off, and furnished a subject of debate in both houses. Ths Conservatives, Wellington a n d P ee l , Maintained their ..round ; the Whigs vindi ca t e d th e Q ueen's refusal, and declared 6 themselves ready to accept the res P onsibi , lity of it. They at once return e d to office, and Sir R. Peel, on his side, resumed, for two years more IS posi tion as the ruling spirit of the Opposition.—Uuzzot's Me ntoirs of Sir Robert Peel. [ADVERTISEMENTI.—Nothing can be more interesting the numerous extrao r di nar y cures 'without than medicineeruosf, gestion (Dyspesia), Flatulency, Constipation, N ous, and Liver complaints, Cough Asthma, Consu m pti on , and Debility effected by Du Barry'sd elicious Health-Restoring Revalenta Arabica Food. We give a few.—Winchester, De cember 3d, 1847. Gentlemen am happy t o b e a bl e t o ainform you that the p erson for whom your Reval en t a was lrocured has derived a very great benefit from its u se ; dis ressing D ropsy, symptoms of Dyspepsia, and Constip a ti on o f long standing h ave been removed, and a f ee li ng o f restore d health induced. Having 'witnessed the beneficial effects in the abov e mentioned. case I ca n with confidence recom mend it, die. JAMES SW/ELAND, late Surgeon, 96th Regiment. Silviugton Rectory, Cleobury Mortim er, f Salop, Feb., 1851. Gentlemen,--I was in a miserable state but now I a m ent i rely free from it; ando innetih-veoeunsjiorrymitaentitono,f good health. Y our Food is everything to be desired in my case, as I f ee l as if I was in anew state of existence; and I recommend others similarly affected to try it, for its effects are most surprising and agreeable.—Rev. JOHN JONES. Supported by testimonials from the celebrated Professors of Chemistry Dr. Andrew 17re ; Dr. Shorland ; Dr. Harvey ; Dr. Campbell ; Dr. Gattik er ; D r . W urzer ; D r. I ngram ; Lord Stuart de Decies; the Dowager Countess of Castle- Stuart; Major-Gen. Thomas King, and many other respectable persons, whose health has been restored by it, after all other means of cure had failed. Suitably packed for all climates, with full instructions. In canisters, Ilb., 2s. 9d. ; 21b., 4s. 6d.; 51bs., lls. ; nibs., 225.; super-refined, 11b., 6s. ; 2lbs., lls. ; slbs., 225. ; 101bs., 335. The 101bs. and 121bs. can Lace free, on receipt of post-office order. Barry du Barry and Co., 77, Regent-street, London ; Fortnum, Masoniand Co., Purveyors to her Majesty, Piccadilly ; also at 60, Graci.ehui ch-street ; 33D and 451, Strand; 4, Cheapside ; 68, Cornhill ; 49, Bishops gate-street; 55, Charing-cross;, 64, Upper Baker-street; 63 and 150. Oxford-street. 1/17. Martin, the clerk, read the evidence taken on the last examination relating to the delivery of the goods at the institution. Mr. W. J. Palmer, of Reading, of the firm of Huntley and Palmer, biscuit bakers, said thatin December, 1855, he gave instructions for a barrel of biscuits to be sent to the Samaritan Institution as a gift for the use of the poor only, in consequence of a letter he received from Mr. Barber. On receiving the letter he formed the be lief that Barber was soliciting the gift for the use of the poor on Christmas-day. By Mr. Horsley—He believed that in 1854 his firm received a letter from gr. Barber, and forwarded a gift to the institution. He bad not sent any biscuits this year. By the Alderman—He was led by the names of the vice-presidents to think it was all correct. He believed Mr. Samuel Gurney's name was in the circular, and he was influenced by that. [lt may be stated that the witness is a Quaker.] Joseph Bright was called, and examined by Mr. Sleigh. He said he was a labourer at St. Katherine's Docks. On the 3d of December, 1855, he was engaged by Mr. Barber, at the Samaritan Institution, to attend to the lavatories, and entered upon the duty on the fol lowing day. He was paid 3s. a week, with board and lodging. In a fortnight afterwards (a week or two before Christmas-day) he was employed as cook. Cn Monday before Christmas-day he remembered a sack of flour being delivered from Ponsford and Co. It was carried up stairs into a gallery in the private part of the establishment, where the family lived. He- saw no portion of the flour used in making puddings before Christmas-day. He remembered two 36-gallon barrels of beer being brought in the day before Christmas-day, 1855 ; he was at the institution all Christmas-day. Just before Christmas he remembered a barrel of biscuits coming into the institution. Poor people came for relief on Christmas-day, but no beer or biscuits were given to any of them. [lt was stated in Barber's circular that the gifts were to be distributed to the poor on Christmas-day.] One of the barrels of beer was tapped either on the Sunday or Monday night before Christmas-day (Tuesday). Beer was given to the persons who were employed by Mr. Barber in distributing the food to the poor. There were three female servants, who frequently • the barrels in quart earthenware jugs, an, to Mr. Barber's private apartments. The for relief never went upstairs. (Laughtet beer came in witness had been employee go to the public-house for the consnmpth upstairs. He was sent out for beer to t on one or two occasions after the beer was ; the week after Chi istmas - day he saw beer drawn from the " barrel and taken upstairs. He remained with Barber until the 7th Feb., and up to that time the drawing of the beer continued. They had tapped the second barrel by that time. Mr. Barber kept the key, and the servant brought it down when she went to the barrel. Before the second barrel was tapped a drayman came for the first barrel, which was not empty, and Mrs. Barber ordered the remainder to be put out into a brown pan, and car ried up into the private apartment to be bottled up. There was a gallon and a half or two gallons. About the beginning of Jan. in this year Barber gave a dinner party in his private apartments. Be-sides Mr. and Mrs. Bauer and a young lady, Mr. Barber's father dined with two of the finance committee, Mr. Guadiano and Mr. Maddocks. Witne.ts waited at table, and assisted in drawing the beer from the barrel for consumption. A servant maid also drew beer from the barrel. Witness made the soup for the poor. Ile did not put any flour or biscuits in the soup. By the - Altierman —There wai no desert after the dinner given by Mr. Barber to his friends, and no his. suits were used. Witness had some of the biscuits, which were given to him by Mr. Barber's son. By Mr. Horsley—There were two lavatories in the in stitution, one for men and one for women. In the men's lavatory there were four basins. There were two baths fitted up in regular bath-rooms. Tee gallery in which the flour was placed ran round the building in which the poor were fed. No poor person was allowed to go up there. It was not his duty to take the flour out of the sack. Mrs. Barber and her female servants made the puddings. His was the soup department. (Laughter.) Whenever ho wanted peas, bread, legs of beef, or other articles, he applied to Mrs. Barber for them. He never put flour into the soup, and therefore never applied to Mrs. Barber for any. He had peas, celery, onions, and carrots fro, the soup, but no turnips or herbs. Mr. Sleigh said that if this style of examination were continued he would prove that, with the exception of a shin of beef in thirty-five gallons of water, the whole of the condiments were not worth threepence. Mr. Horsley—Legs of beef were put into the soup. Mr. Sleigh—Bones of beef. Witness continued—There was meat on the bones which were put into the soup. Mr. Barber was present at the tapping of both the barrels of beer. By the Alderman—The poor on Christmas-day had beef, potatoes, pudding, or bread. They had no w a t er . By Mr. Horsley—He saw about a hundred mugs b w r e o r u e g n h o t i t u n s e o d n o t ti day n e e l) b Christmas-day. i st efo ina r s ! d Christmas-day, y. r i s t The tis dinners- ay, t day began between one and two'ciock. Some of the persons who were engaged as servants on Christmas day, and to whom beer was given, had previously re ceived relief as poor persons. Mr. Horsley—Then the poor were relieved 1 (Cries of " Oh, oh," in court.) Examination continued—He left the institution on the 7th of February, by leave of Mrs. Barber, and did not go back for a week. He declined to say whe titer he went to gaol. (Mr. Sleigh objected to this on the ground that there could be no imputation on a man's character if ha were taken on a County Court capias.) He was sent to gaol for seven days for apply ing for relief when drunk, having ss. in his pocket. By Mr. Sleigh—When the mugs were brought in, Barber said, "The mugs are too large; I will not give any beer away." The mugs were put in a bushel basket, and were sent away again, not having been used at all. There was no communication between the gallery and the place where the poor were fed. It was approached by a staircase in the private part of the building. Henry Flude, an inmate of the West London Union, said that on the Thursday before Christmas, 1655, he was employed by Mr. Barber, at the Samaritan Insti tution as an under-porter. He remembered a sack of flour being - brought in on the day before Christmas-day. Four or five days after Christmas he went with a firkin butter cask containing flour and suet chopped up to gether to a pie shop in Leather-lane. _de sold the cask of flour and suet at the pie shop kept by a person named West. A man named Linated, a person in Barber's employment, went with witness to the pie shop and took the money. Witness was at, the institution the whole of Christmas-day, but did not see any beer or biscuits given to the poor people on that or any other day. The beer was drawn from the barrels by Mr. Barber's ser vants and drunk by Mr. Barber's family. By Mr. Horsley—He did not see the flour and suet put in the cask, but Mrs. Barber called him upstairs with Linsted, and said to Linsted, " You are to sell that flour." The top of the barrel was , open, and he could see what it contained. The contents of the cask were weighed at a green-grocer's next door to the pie shop. He did not hear Mrs. Barber say anything about the suet being stinking and unfit for use. He did not know what was done with the money. Elizabeth West said she kept a pie shop in Leather lane, and always made her pies of sound and whole some materials, and never of stinking stuff. About the 3d January last the last witness and a man brought a barrel containing sues and flour. It was weighed next door, and her pieman bought it. Witness paid for it, but she did not recollect how much she gave for it. It was good and wholesome. After some further evidence, in which it was proved Christthat n be rn o a s.d e n r o y, ther biscuitsinquiry was adjourned givete tothe until poor Friday me next. DI?A_DFVL MURDER OF TWO CHILDREN. After Mr. Elliott had disposed of the public business, and was about to leave the bench at Lambeth Police court yesterday, Mrs. Martha Bacon, a married woman, 26 years of age, of mild expression of countenance, but with something in the appearance of her eyes chat clearly indicated a disordered mind, was brought to the court in custody, and charged with the murder of her two children, the one' about 15 mouths, and the other 3+ years of age, by cutting their throats from ear to ear, and also with inflicting some wounds on her own throat, with the intention, no doubt, of committing suicide. Police-constable Henry Cook, 75 L, said that at about half-past one o'clock on that afternoon he was on duty at the station-house in Kennington-lane, when the prisoner and another woman, then present, called, and the latter requested that he would accompany them to a house in Four Acre4treet, Acre-lane. He went with them, and on reaching the house No. 4 in that street the prisoner unlocked the door and he entered the house. On going ioto the back parlour he found a child, a boy of about three years of age Prisoner—Ttiree years and a half. Witness—Well, it may be that—sitting in a chair, with his head leaning on a table placed before him, quite dead and cold, and hie throat cut from ear to ear. He (witne,s) then went up stairs, and, on entering the back room on the first fl nor, he found another child lying on the floor, with its face downwards, quite dead, and its throat also cut from from ear to ear. Mr, Elliott—Wcat was the age of that child Witness—Wtll, Sir, I should think it might be 15 or 1G months. Mr. Elliott— On your way from the station-house to her residence in Acre-street did the prisoner say anything to you ? Witness—l don't recollect that she did, your worship, except that she did not do it. Mr. Elliott—Well, go on with your evidence. Witness—Well, Sir, on the bed in the room where I Join, which was deeply stained with blood, particularly the lower part of it, and on the pillow there was one drop of blood and two others on the sheets ; and on the floor close to the table there were some marks of blood wuich were covered over with an apron, as if to conceal them. There was also a mark of blood on one of the room doors, which appeared to me to have been caused by some bloody garment touci3; di g it. • Mr, Elliott—What is your opinion as to . the time when the wounds on th e pr i soner and her 01 7,:ildren must have been inflicted ? Mr. Bushell--Th ey were evidently d one w i t hi n 24 hours, and I should think about the time the prisoner spoke of-8 o clock last eve Wing. Mr. Elliott—What P`, ate were the children in as to drees ? Mr. Bush ' l . ), —Tlae youngest had nothing but a gown on, but th e e ld er, I think, had more clothing on, but neither shoes nor stockings. Mr. Elliott --Has any instrument been found by which these wounds might be inflicted ? Mr. Bushed- - there was in one of the rooms a table, on which there was some food, and I think also three knives, and one which was apart from the others appeared to me to be deeply stained and as if it had been wiped a good deal, but still deeply stained. Mrs. Amelia Oako, the searcher at the court, said she searched the prisoner carefully, and could not find any marks of blood on any part of her dress, except the upper part of her under dress, and this she thought proceeded from her own wound. While searching her the prisoner said a man came in at the back window and killed her two children, and asked if she (witness) thought she should be locked up. This being all the evidence, Mr, Elliott gave the prisoner the usual caution, and told he; after this he should hear an ythi ng s h e had to say. Pri-oner—The only thing I have to say is that I did not do it. The prisoner, who during the examination kept look. ink; at the different witnesses while giving their evidence with a vacant stare, was then remanded to a future day, and Mr. Elliott humanely directed that her husband, who is at work ,at Reigate, should be made acquainted with his melancholy bereavement without delay. FURTHER PARTICULARS. The bodies of the poor infants were left as they were discovered, and information of the occurrence was for warded to Mr. Thomas Cooke, the summoning officer for the parish of St. Mary, Newington, about 6 o'clock in the evening. A search was then made, and marks of blood were found on the various doors. In a cupboard were no leas than six quartere loaves, very stale, and nearly a whole Stilton cheese, the quantity of bread being somewhat remarkable considering the smallness of the family. Two envelopes where also found, on which were written, " Mr. Bacon, at Mr. Marriage's, ironmonger, Market-place, Reigate." They are supposed to be in the handwriting of Mr. Bacon, who, it is stated, lest home on Sunday evening last at seven o'eluck, to pro ceed to Reigate, to fulfil his duties at the establishment of Mr. Marriage, by whom he is employed. It is rumoured in the neighbourhood that the wretched murderess has been confined in a lunatic asylum, and that at the present time she is of unsound mind. Albion • • .. AMP:IIa Brit. and For. Ditto Marine ....... 2kthenamm .......... Atlas .. Argus Life ~. • • British Commercial .. Church of England .. City of London Clericl.Aled.&Gen.Life County Crown .......... Eagle . Equity and Law.. European Life Family Endowment •• General...... Globe Gresb am Life Do. Do. Guardian Imperial Fire Imperial Life ..... Indemnity Marine Law Fire Law Lite.• Legal and General Life London London & Prov. Law Marine. • • .... •. • Med. I indict & Gen. 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London .•• • • ••• •• • • St. Katharine • • • • • • • • ?.outhampton Victoria •• •• •• •• •• • • Ditto New ........ Name of Company. Bank of Scotland .... British Linen Company Caledonian Bank ..... City of Glasgow Bank Clydesdale Bank .... C.mmereial Bank .. Pastern Bank Ediub. & Glasgow.... National Bank North of Scotland Bank Royal Bank of S cotl. Union Bank of Scot. Western Bank • ... . • • • Alliance Fire and Life.. British Guarantee . Caledonian Fire Incur City of Glasgow Life.. Colonial Life Edinburgh Life Insur. Eng. & Scot, Law Life Life Assoc. of @cotland Nationai Fire and Life North British Incur... Northern Assurance Co. Scottish Provincial .... Scottish Union lusriic, Standard Life Name of Compaiy. Acadian Charcoal Iron African Steam Ship .. Assam 'lea Auction Mart.... Australian Agriculturl Australian Trust .... Australian It.oyal Mail Anglo-Mexican Mint.. British Am , irican La.nd Canada Do. 5 per cent Bonds Ditto, 5 per cent bds Ditto, 6 per cent. .. Ditto, 6 p c. bd5.1784 Ditto, 6 p c. bds 1876 Crystal Palace .• Ditto Preference.... Cry s. Palace of France City Navigation Bonds Fdecirlc 'l'elegraph Eng.& Aus. Cop. Smelt. Eng.&lris. %fag. T. Co. Equitable Iteversioury Ditto New ........ Gen. Revers. & Invest. Gen. I. Sc. Col. (Mm.) Gen.SteamNavigation London Gen. Omnibus Hudson's 8ay...... •• Hungerford ......... Lon. Ne. &Na. Mans°. London Reversions:} Alex. & S. American Nat. Discount Comp • • N.S.W. Gov.sp.c. Deb. Nor. Bri. Australasian North of Europe, Stm. Price's Patent Cann. Co Peel River Land&Min. Pen. & Oriental Steam Ditto New Reversionary Int. Soc Ditto New •• •• • • Royal Mail Steam.... Scottish Acs. Invest. South Austral ian Land Trust and Loan Conap. 'Yam Dienien's Land.. Vic. (3ov. 6p. c. Bds. 51. pr cent. .• 61. pr cent. 41. per cent. 51. pr cent. 4)6 /. per cnt. 4 per cent. 51. Os per c. LIST OF SCOTTISH COX Dividend . per An . num. 71. per cent. 8/. per cent. 81. per cent. 51. per cent. 51. p cent. 71. per cent. 6/. per cent. 8%1. p cent. 6% per cent. 51. per cent 5/. per cent.l, 81. per cent. 71. per cent.' 3yjl.pr cent. V. per cent. 10c,. per cent. 6/. per cent. 51. per cent. 61. percent. 51.0er cent. Si. per cent. 6/. per cent. 71. per cent. 7%/. pr cent. 5L per cent. :SCELLAN: Dividend per Ainum. kit. per cent. 2 1 4/per cent. ..... 7%1. pr cent 11. 10s. 51. per cent. 61. per cent. 51. per cent 5 , per cent 61. per cent. Q. per cent. 6/. per tent. 7l pr. cent 3 1 / 2 1. per cent 61. per cent. 3l per cent. 51.pcandld. 101. per et. gr: 121. per cent 51. per cent. ss. 51, per cent. 51. per cent 6d. g/. per cent 71. per cent 416 1. pr cent 4 1 / 2 /. pr cent. 41. p. share 151. nor cent. 71. per cent. 716/. pr cent. 103. 61. per cent WATER-WORKS. Dividend per Annum. rEANCE CO: Dividend per Annum. 71. per c. U. 14s. 6d. bs il. p.c. & bs. X s. d. '5OO 0 0 100 0 (i 100 0 0 1 0 0 50 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 5 0 0 Stock. 15s. 0(1. 41, per cent. 7t. 10s. 71. 10s. 5 pr ct : & bs. 1/. 16s. 15% per cent. 41. per cent. 6 per cent. 5/. per cent. 51. per cent 121. per cent 14s. & 21 st.p. ct. &bs.' 2s & 2s bons 51. per cep Is. per shale 1/. ss: 20 0 0 100 0 0 '5OO 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 25 • 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 5 0 0 10 0 0 18s. & be. 414 per cent st, per cent. 51. per cent. 6.4 per cent 51 p. ct. 51. per cent. 51. per cent. 12%,per c. 6 5 0 lOU 0 0 5 0 0 Stock. 8 p. c. & bs p.c.&bs. 11. Ms. 4/. & bonus. 5/. & bonus. 51. & bonus 20 0 0 100 0 0 IINT. STOCK BANKS. Dividend per Amount of 6ho:re. Annum. 10/. per ce:lt. s. d. 40 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 25 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 10 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 51. per cent. 5 /. P. c. & bs. ! 41. per cent. 51. per cent. 9, 101. per cent. 41. percent. 151. per cent.' 61. per cent. 12% pc. &bs' 16,. per cent. 3t 51. per cent. 1 20'. per cent. 101. per cent. Si. p. ct.&bs. 8 i. per cent. 51. per cent. 101. per cent. 21/. per cent. 102.pcf4 .bs.l 15 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 DOCKS, Dividend per Annum. Amount of Share. s. d. Stock. Stock. Stock. 100 0 0 100 0 0 25 0 0 Stock. Stock. 50 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 :PANIES' AMOPII t of Share. £ S. d. 100 C 0 100 0 0 1 0 0 0 10 0 0 20 0 0 1510 0 25 0 0 0 100 O 0 /0 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 1 00 e 0 10 0 0 100 0 0 25 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 40 0 0 10 0 0 200 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 .OIIS. Amount of Share. S. d. 10 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 Stock Stock Stock Stock Stock 5 0 0 5 0 0 4 0 0 Stock. 5 0 0 5 0 0 0 100 0 0 5 0 0 0 100 0 0 25 0 0 15 0 0 4 0 0 Stock 100 0 0 10 0 0 IS 0 10 0 0 25 0 0 1 0 0 20 0 0 2C 0 0 5 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 13C. 0 c. 100 0 0 1 0 0 25 0 0 20 0 0 :00 0 0 150 e 0 all 12 10 0 100 0 0 42 15 0 41 0 0 43 10 0 41 0 0 all 52 0 0 16 0 0 all 10 0 0 all 4 0 0 Z s. d. 50 0 0 11 0 0 25 0 0 all 5 15 0 25 0 0 5 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 4 0 0 47 5 u 50 0 0 20 0 0 30 0 0 2 10 0 13 0 0 2 10 9 12 10 0 2 0 0 12 10 0 2 0 0 20 0 0 2 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 o 10 0 10 0 0 0 10 0 all 5 10 0 10 0 0 5 0 0 Paid. 4 s. d. all 18 15 0 50 0 0 all 6 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 20 0 0 20 1) 0 50 0 0 10 0 0 20 0 0 35 0 0 10 0 0 5 0 0 22 10 0 15 0 0 25 0 0 all 2 10 0 3 0 0 10 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 Paid. I Price. Stock. ,126 1 , 11 , 1002 100 0 0 14085:00g 00 0 c6ic . 0 0 ; 107 5 'PICIdB. B. d. 100 0 0 100 O 0 2 10 o 10 0 0 10 0 0 100 0 0 10 0 0 5 6 100 o 0 2 10 0 100 0 0 5 0 0 0 50 0 9 11 0 0 2 0 0 10 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 a 15 0 0 3 5 0 3 0 0 1 4 0 20 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 I n Z S . d. 2 0 0 10 0 0 20 0 0 19 0 0 25 0 0 all all 40 0 0 32 10 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 all 5 0 0 100 0 0 alt 100 0 0 22 10 0 100 0 0 all 14 o Stock 5 0 0 17 10 10 0 0 all 20 0 0 50 0 0 all all 5 0 0 28 10 0 Country Markets, LIVERPOOL —DE c. 30. At this day's market there was a fair attendance of the town and country trade, and a good show of samples of wheat and flour. Holders began by asking an advance of 6d per 701bs. on all kinds of wheat, which checked the de mand ; however, ultimately, a fair amount of business was done at 2d to 3d per 701bs over the rates of this day week for prime qualities of white and red, 4d per 701bs. on me dium and inferior qualities. Flour met with a moderate demand, at an advance of ls. per barrel and sack on the week. Oats were neglected and rather easier to buy, but oatmeal retained its value. Barley, beans, and peas sold in retail at late rates. Indian corn was at first held at 35s per qr. for mixed, but the demand, being otherwise limited, settled down to 34s 6cl per qr., could not be made, yellow bringing 35s and white 35s 6d to 36s 6d per qr. in retail. HIILL—DEc. 30. We had a small supply of wheat to-day, which met free sale at about is to 2s over the rates paid last Tuesday ; foreign, is dearer. Barley of best malting description is dearer ; other descriptions of spring corn without altera tion. Linseed is firmer, but cakes are the turn in favour of buyers. Bones aro again dearer, and a sale reported at 6/. bs cost, freight, and insurance. • 3 S Wheat, English, red 58 to 60' Ditto white 6O to 65 Dantzic and Konigs berg 66 to 72 Pomeranianand Ham- Peas, grey and black B. to S Linseed, Black Sea... 62 to 65 Ditto Petersburgh 50 to 53 Ditto Rigaand Arch- _ _ burgh Danish,Holstein, and I angel ,DittoKortigsberg and Memel 44 to 50 Frieland 54 to 58' Russian and Odessa 58 to 6:3 Oats, English Ditto Danish Ditto Friesland Ditto Russian 29 to 301 Barley, malting' 42 to Ko' Ditto grinding 35 to 38 Beans Ditto foreign Peas, whito and yel 4O to 42 Per Piot Lins.e., Hull-103 to 9/ 17 6a Ditto fine for. 81 Os 911:)s Od (Ditto inf. for. 01 Os Od to 01 Os ' Rapeseed__ 001 Os to 001 Os Rape cakes .—s Od to 127 s 6d 'Tares, English__ 0/. to —s Ditto foreign Guano OOl Os 81 tol2/ 15s Bones Flour, per brl. 3ss. 38s LEEDS-DEC. 30. We have only an indifferent show of wheat. In some cases a small advance is obtained on the rates of Friday. Barley held for more money. Oats and beans, with, other articles, do not vary materially from last week. Average price of grain :—wheat, s')s 8d ; barley, 45s 10d ; oats, 28s lld ; beans, 44s 8d ; peas, 425. COITIISB OF EXCH . ANOB. —YESTERDAY. Am5terdam............ 11 14 1 ,. Gibraltar ......•••••••• Ditto, three months .. 11 17 1 A Leghorn 29 60 Rotterdam •• •• •• •••••• 11 17 14 Genoa .......... •• .• ••25 80 Antwerp •••••••••••••• 25 35 Milan ....•••••••••••• Brussels •• ••••••a• •• • • 25 35 I Venice .••••••• •• •• .. • Haroburgh •••••••••••• 13 7 1 M' Naples •••••• •••• 42X. Altona •••••••• •• •••••• Palermo .••• 25 26 Messinr 129 Lisbon .. .... 51 Oporto 51% Rio Janeiro Buenos Ayres — New York,6o days' sight Philadelphia PRICES OF BULLION, PER OZ. Foreign Gold In Bars £3 17 9 Portugal Gold Coin .. 0 0 0 Mexican Dollars .... 0 0 0 New Dollars ...... 0 0 0 Silver in bare 0 0 0 Ditto, three months .. 25 65 Marseilles •• • •• •• • • • • •• 25 67%, Bourdeaux .. • • Fr ankfort-on- liaine •• .. 119 Berlin • • •• •• •• •• • • •• •• Vienna •• •• ••••• • • • .. 10 44 Crieste— • • •••••• • • .... 10 45 Petersburg •••••••• • • • • 37 IA lilfulrifl •.•••• • • • •• 1,0 49 Cadiz . •• •••••• ••••••• Barcelona •• •• •....... a • •• LOCAL SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, DEC. 30. STOOK ESOITANGE.—The market opened with much ac tivity, but subsequently gave way, and closed flatly. Black burn, 8 84—Caledonian, 31I—East Lancashire, 232—Lan cashire and Yorkshire, 97k—London and North-Western, 106 a 4 i a—Ditto eighth sharer, now, d.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 3.4 5 i—Midland, 824 /—South Eastern, 22k—Midland new 44- per cent. stock, 98—Nor thern Union A, 238—Grand Trunk of Canada, 134 14 131. 182. 9d. MANCHESTER, DEC. 30. ST3CIC EXCHANGE.—There was a fair business, and the market was firm, closing at the best. Cheshire Junction, .204 c.—Leeds, 9n n—Midlands, B.9l—Dovers, Lancashire, 23a—Electric Telegraph, 22,1—Sheffields,341 4 n 4—B lackburn, 8 1-16—Chester and Birkenhead (2.2/. shares), 141—Birmingham and Derby, 54, BIRMINGHAM, DEC. 30. STOCK EXCHANGE. — Great Western Birmingham Gil" ranteed stock was done at 73—Great Western Binning ham Preference at 101. 3s. 9d., and Birmingham Fire office at 94. Of Stour Valley shares there wero buyers at 8-Great Western Stour Valley Guaranteed stock at 63 —Birmingham Canal at 92—and Birmingham Banking Company at 33. Market quiet, and prices without nb' terial alteration. [When the date remains open until mail, via Southarx evening previous.] SEABORNE MAILS. for making up a mail falls on a Sunday, the Mai the day following; except in the case of the India npton, which, on such occasions, is made UP the Lisbon Spain • Gibraltar Gibraltar Alalta • • • • Egypt Ceylon Mauritius Made up at the Post-Office IV hence des- 7th,l7th, & 27th of the month. patched. South ampton By what Vessel. Alham bra South ampton leolombol viaCeylon)J China Penang Singapore JJ Australia(via N the Cape) Cape of Good Hope .. • • Mauritius Ceylon India Lisbon Madeira CapedeVerds Brazil IluenosAyres Falkland Is-, lands West Indies (except Ila vana and Honduras). Venezuela , Grey Town New Granada Chili • Peru •••. • • California South ampton South ampton Dart mouth South ampton South ampton Honduras • • Nassau •• •• Mexico .• • • Havana • Madeira • . eneriffe W C.ofAfrica British North America .. South ampton 'Colombo! Co'um bian Milted State; United States British North America .. united States British North America .. Canada .. •• i South ampton When expected By What Vessel• Ply mouth Jan. 4 svitan Liver pool W.S. Lindsay 4th and 20th of the I F ipon; month. Jan. 4.. rramar Dee.— IRipon Red ,Jacket England Orinoco Orinoco ICandace Atlantic Jan. 7 Anglo t,axon 4th & 20th of the month. 4th of 1 the month. Jan. 12 .. J 'Tan. 5 . • .. I.Tan. 9.... 2d and 17th of tha month. Ilan. 17 .. Jan. 2... IJan. 23 Eery Fri. ,Jan. 6 and' alternate • Tuesdays. , Dec. 31 .. Jan. 27 .. Liver pool Liver pool South ampton Magda• lens D7a;da• lens Gambia America , Atlantic' Wash iugton Anglo- Saxon Jan. 25 Jan. 12 1 et and 16th of the month 3l—Morning. E—Evening. 16th of the month. Jan. 1 Jan. 6 Jan. 1 Tyne AWKWARDNESS Or OLD GENERALS.—But perhaps Gen. Knollys was among those generals upon whom I once heard the Iron Duke expend one of his unexpected pleasantries. It was an adventure at Buckingham Palace. The Queen was on her tiarone—the Prince Consort stood beside her; the great officers of State were ranged around. The knights, in their gorgeous robes, had retired from the throne-room, and again the mirrored doors " swung open wide," and the heralds, in their tabards of cloth-of -gold,. entered, booing with all the humility as they escorted of 1 general after general up to the footstool of her Majest d. y. Feebly did those venerable old warri ors advance, wa slowly and awkwardly did they retire, each man trading upon his long robes, or slipping an d tri pp ing upon tl nce ie smooth Indian matting, as he back ed out of the prese, Their retreat was not much accelerated when out spake ow the Iron Duke as he stood n ear the throne, H badly her Majesty's generals walk backwards !" Per haps no other man in the realm could have made such an observation at such a time, and have been rewarded, as that good old man was, with his Sovereign's smile.— Aldergottana ; or, Chinks in My Hut. • BIRTHS. OP A 113:1• On the 29th inst., at 60, Lowudes-square, the Hon. Mils. Flar vie Farquhar. On the 29th inst., at 3, Chalcot -terrace, Regent's-pa4c , Mrs. G. H. Sawyer. OF A DAUGHTER. On the 29th inst., at Broomfield -house, Smethwick, Mae Cordy Manby. At the Tower, near Mol d, Flintshire, the wife o f Cap tain Frederic Mathias , la te of EM. 54th Regt. MARRIED. On the 27th inst., at the parish church, Saltash, Mr. J. P. Edwards, of the Royal Albert Bridge Works, Cornwall Railway, to Mary Skinner, only daugh ter of John Porter, Esq., of St. Stephen's. St. Stephen's, On the 30th inst., at St. John's, Notting-hill, the Rev. Thomas Edward Morris, M.A., late' Student of Christ Church, Oxford, vicar of Carleton-in -Craven, to Amelie. Chairman of the Middlesex. Jane, younger daughter of Henry Pownall, Esq., of 20, Ladh'roke-square, Notting-hill, Quarter Sessions. D I D. On the 27th inst., at Margato, George Augustus Oliver, Esq., of Twickenham , On the 25th inst., at Marseilles, in the south of France, the Rev. Hugh Spoke, M.A., rector of Dowlish Wake, ag ed 01. and Vicar of Curry Rivell, Somersetshire, aged 53. On the 27th inst., at Totnes, Devon, James Shaw, jun. , Esq., cotton-spinner, of Saddleworth, Yorkshire, aged 32. On the 27th inst., at 15, Union-place, Blackheath- road, Kent, Mr. T. Scott, second son of the late Mr. R. Scott, a On the 28th inst., at Paris, Philip Mules, Lymington, Hants, aged ton, MOOD, late Major-Commandant E.D. Tolunteer Ga- Haornrietthe D 2 o B r t e h thLa s , t. w , valry, aged 72. On the 28th inst., at 26, Broad-street, Marine -parade, Blighton, Ellen, the wife of acorge Geere, Esq., surgeon. On the 28th inst., at Cannon-bill, near Maidenhead, Worcestershire, Esq., of rioni ifaetofGlrteeaatr-3Aillmveirrna,l Greville, L. Frances Hampson, the wife of M. M. Beale Cooper, Esq., On th© 29th inst.,, at Woodbury-val°, Alice, wife of Mr. solicitor, of Upton-upon-Severn and Great Malvern. Thomas Brown, jun., of 85, Wood-street, aged 21. _........—.------....1.....m! ,~ LONDON: Printed and Published by HURD() YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at 27e Sun Oftice, unt 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy,•in the co of Aliddle*e7, Ilrednes'iv, December 31, 18 & 6 ti Price. Fli ON from, the Official List. rUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY EVENINt., LONDON, .TUESDAY, DEC. 30, 1856. CANALS. ~' Paid. Price. Price Price. Price, 44% 16 11 2 4 20% 53% 10% 7% Price. 184% Price. Paid, 113% 102% 13% 3' 2734 171 4 191,4 lgy 4 38 13% Prtce.