The Sun. — London, England, 1861-01-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDA! , EVENING'. JANUARY 3, 1861. cIPLENDID MAP OF LONDON, 1 1 / 4 _ , Twenty-seven Square Feet, GRATIS, with the DISPATCH.—On SUNDAY, Jan. 6th, will be issued Gratis with the Dispatch, the First of Nine Double Sheets, forming, when complete, the most perfect and useful Map of London ever published, and measuring twenty-seven square feet, upon a scale of nearly ten inches to the mile. The price of the Dispatch (with double-sheet Map) is—Unstamped, sd. stamped, to go free by post, 6d. Order of any News Agent in the Kingdom, or from the Office, 139, Fleet-street, London. send 4s. 6d. in stamps for nine papers and perfect Map. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN.—Under the Management of Miss Louisa Fyne and Mr. W. Harrison, Sole Lessees. The great Pantomime of BLUE BEARD, universally pronounded to he the hit of the season. Never surpassed for Magnificence of Scenery, Costumes, Decorations, Dances, Processions, and surpassing beauty of the Fairy Transforma tion Scene. -- • -• Commence at Seven. Doors open at Half-past Six. THIS EVENING and during the week, rHE MARRIAGE OF GEORGETTE : Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. H. Corri. Conductor, Mr. Alfred Mellon. After which, the Grand Oriental Pantomine of BLUE BEARD. The opening writ ten by J. V. Bridgman, Esq. Supported by a combination of talent unequalled in the annals of pantomimic art. Mr. W. B. Payne, Harry Boleno, Henry Payne, Hildyard, Milano, Fred. Payne, Tanner, J. Barnes, the Zelinskis, Miss Clara Morgan, and Mdme. Boleno. The Pantomime produced by 31r. Edward Stirling. The MORNING PERFORMANCES each week, WED NESDAY and SATURDAY, commencing at Two o'clock. Stage Manager, Mr. Edward Stirling. Acting Manager, Mr. Edward Murray. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison, Sole Lessees. THIS EVENING, the MARRIAGE OF GEORGETTE Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. H, Corr'e. To conclude with the Grand Christmas Pantomime, BLUE BEARD ; or, Harle quin and Freedom in her Island Home. Clowns. Messrs. H. Boleno, H. Payne. Hildyard, and Lilliputians. Harlequins, Messrs. Milano and F. Payne. Pantaloons, Messrs. Barnes and Tanner. Columbines, Mdme. Boleno and Clara Morgan. Sprites, the Zelinski Family. Mr. W. H. Payne, Mlle. Lamoureux, &c. Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. Commence at Seven. THEATR-g-ROYAL, HAYMARKET. "ewe, Mr. J. B. Backatone. THIS EVENING, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. Tony, bumpkin, Mr. Buckstone ; Young Marlow, Mr. Howe ; Miss Hardeastle, Miss Fanny Stirling After which, a new Pantomime, QUEEN LADYBIRD AN!) HER CHILDREN. The Pantomimists by the un rivalled Leclercqs, Herr Cole, and Fanny Wright. Commence at 7. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- Lessee and Manager. Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, Jan. 3, ERNESTINE. Messrs. J. G. Shore, R. Cathcart, Basil Potter ; Mesdames Heath, Car lotta Lecleroq, Weston, and Murray. After which, a new Christmas comical pantomime, entitled ROBINSON CRUSOE • or, Harlequin Frida,v, and the Rime- , of the Caribbe Islands : in which Monsieur Espinosa and Mdlle. Marie Dumilatre, of the principal cantinental theatres, will appear. Clown, Mr. A. F. Forrest. PADELPHI, NEW THEATRE-ROYAL. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Beni. Webster. • THIS EVENING, AN UGLY CUSTOMER. Messrs. J. Toole, C. Selby, and Warde ; Miss K. Kelly, and Miss E. Thorne. After which, THE COLLEEN BAWN. D. Boucicault, D. Fisher, Billirton, Falconer, 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, B. Kelly, I,aidlaw, and F. Thorne. Doors open at half-past B—Commence at 7. Box-office open from 10 till 5. No charge for booking. Private boxes, £2 2s. ; Family Boxes, £l. Orchestra Stalls, ss. ; Balcony, 45.: Front Circle Stalls, 35. ; Pit Stalls, 25.; Pit, ls. 6d. ; Amphitheatre, Is ; Gallery, 6d. Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. THF,ATRF,- ROYAL LYCEUM. sois Lessee and Directress, Madame CELESTE. THIS EVENING THE OMNIBUS. Pat Rooney, Mr. John Drew. After which, the Lyceum Christmas Comic Extravaganza, CRYSTA BELLE or, The Rose without a Thorn, showing - THE VISIOV OF A ROSE. ITS FADING AT EVE, AND THE MAY-BLOOM OF THE WILD BRIAR. Followed by the comic Drama, entitled HANDY ANDY. Messrs. Campbell, Johnstone, T. Lyon. Forrester, Villiers, Butler, and John Drew; Mrs. J. Rouse, Miss Hudspeth, Miss M. Ternan, and Miss Neville. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.- Proprietor and Manager, Mr. WM. BATTY. This Evening, a new Spectacle, entitled THE LION CONQUEROR ; or, The Death Jungle, expressly for the introducttion of the Wonders of the World. "Teeh roupe of Performing Lions." The Lion Conqueror, Mr. J. Crockett. To be suoceeded by Scenes in 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 HARLEQUTN AND THE WONDERFUL HORSE ; or. Percinet and Grociosa, the Ugly Duchess and the Greedy King, produced with Gorgeous Scenery, by Mr. Cuthbert, new Costumes and Appointments, and introducing In the comic scenes Ratty's Prize Equestrian ilarlequinade, and the celebrated Old Bob Ridley, and Brandon Ledger. Harlequin Mr. Sylvester. Columbine 'Miss Hariet Dalton. Pantaloon Mr. G. Perks. Clown Mr. .Tames Cooke. Sprites—Messrs. Thorne, Lockhart, and Sons. Doors open at half-cast 6, performance commence at 7. Box-office open daily from 11 till 4 Stage Manager—Mr. W. WEST. Director of the Arena--Mr. Pearson. • CANTERBURY Open Every Evening at Seven. GRAND SET. ECTIONq (First Time) from LA FTGLIA DEL REGIMENT° (Donizetti), NORMA, SONNAMBULA, and MARTHA. Principal Artistes Miss RussEtt, Madame 'MARTA, Miss TYRRELL, Miss WILLIAMS, Mr. HENRY HERBERT, C. .BERNARD, and Signor TIVOLI. Musical Director...., Mr. F. JONG if MAN s. The Comic Department compri , es Messrs. J. Br. ANCIT ARD, A. B. HOLLINGSWORTH, Master BARRY, G. W. FELL, CHARLEY Fox, and E. MARSHALL. The Fine Arts Gallery has been enriched by the addition of the late John Martin's three Grand Pictures—viz., " THE GREAT DAY of lIIS WRATH," "TILE PLAINS of HEAVEN," and "THE LAST JUDGMENT," on view until 12 o'clock at Night. HALL HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIN DAY.—Morning, 6h. Bm.—Afternom, 6h. 36m. To-moußow.-Morninz, Oh. 56m.—Afternoon. 711. 22n. THE NTE A.TFI ER..—SnN lOFFI , J AN. 3, Is6l. TIMEMOICKTER, IN THII SHADE. 31—highest since noon yesterday. 26 —lowest this morning and during the night. 32—this day at noon. - _ BAROMETER-30.30.' Wpm North-EaAterly—light ; with foggy, frosty weather. lit : „ - 4-, 0 -.\ . 4 r IA ,e ff_ .e ., , '.- \---I'4 -,.., :4 7,..„ 4 , ~. A 0 _ „..1...,....„ 1 ak0rr s , r ,--h-r, ' kl, - .47w , 11:- 'ik '''' TUE SUN. LONDON, THURSDAY, JAN. 3, 18f1. The American news by this mail is the reverse of what it has so often been. It is of good temper and amity towards England, but of fury and war at home. A correspondence is forwarded to us of the kindliest character, and full of mutual good wishes between - the two Governments —we might almost say between the PRESIDENT and our QUEEN—relative to the visit of the Prince of WALES to the great Republic ; and no end of good hopes and good wishes are expressed on each side; even our touchy cousins tell us that the visit has created "an almost personal interest in the Royalty which the Prince so well represents," and that the feelings aroused and manifested will, they hope, f , bind together more strongly than treaties the feelings and the fortunes of the two nations which represent the enterprise, the civilisation, and the constitutiodal liberty of the same groat race." The QUEEN wishes the PRESIDENT to make known to all Americans the gratitude she feels for their kindness to her son, and the PRESIDENT has great pleasure in making known what will give such general satisfaction. But how different when we read the accounts of what should be the United States, in their relations to each other. Secession seems in the South to be advancing with rapid strides ; we say, it seems, for we shall not know for a long time, whether overt acts and practical separation will follow the votes and resolutions to secede. There are so many interests affected, and will be so many arrange ments to make both in America and Europe before a State or a confederation of States can set up as an independent pow'er, that the attempt to do the thing may quite possibly lead to a reconsideration of the votes. At present the work of separation is steadily advancing in form. The Convention of South Carolina met on the 17th, and took all the prelimi nary steps. It named four committees, the Ame rican mode, on as many subjects-1. Relations to the Slaveholding States of North America. 2. Foreign Relations. 3. Commercial Relations. 4. Constitution of the States ; and then, to give a little appearance of consideration and dignity they ad journed for two days, before coming to final No informed that the arran gements. We are a order of secession is to pass during the week while, the Senate had passed a bill, by a majority of 41 to 3, for arming the State, The popular manifesta tions in Charleston are also said to be numerous in favour of State independency, and the word popu lar, referring of course to white men only—indeed beings of the human shape, but not of the privileged colour, are not considered to be men in the Caro linas. They are of course mere property. In Congress all kinds of resolutions are proposed, some of them passed, rilost of them withdrawn, but none of them practical. One day a Democrat carries a resolution intended to *ensure the Personal Liberty Laws, by which several northern legislators have nullified the infamous Fugitive Slave Law. Then follows a Republican, recommending the repeal of all nullification laws. Again, a Democrat carries a resolution to the effect that the election of ABRAHAM LINCOLN is no justification of dissolu tion, and that the Union is a palladium to be prized above all temporary triumphs of any party or of any man. Nothing, however, is done, or we suppose likely to be done, in Congress, more than in South Carolina. It is highly probable that the blame of the proceedings in that State going to the extent they have done, lies with the President. He is not only a partisan President, but probably a feeble man in action. He has actually recommended 'l i the Union to fast and pray and call on Heaven for help, when the help ought to have come from himself. Eight and twenty years ago a President equal to acting in emergency filled the chair. South Carolina, irritated by the Northern Tariff, had proclaimed a doctrine of much less consequence than secession, that of nullification. An American correspondent of the Morning _Post thus describes how liiingo were managed at that time :—" Then President JACKSON took the initiative, and he was so prompt that his first known step against the. growing rebels was taken 45 days before the Nullifying Convention of South Carolina met. The Charleston forts were garrisoned and placed under command of reliable men ; two armed vessels were ordered to Charleston harbour, the fullest instructions were sent to all the civil, military, and naval officers in and near the scene of threatened rebellion, to be watchful and prompt, and rigorously to enforce the law, and to repulse all attacks that should be made upon them. Ample forces were placed within supporting distance of the men at Charleston ; and two of our comman ders, General SCOTT, of the army, and Captain ELLIOTT, of the navy, were to superintend opera tions should war be commenced by the nullifiers. All these things were done before anything was said to Congress on the subject, as it was not until the 16th of Jan., 1833, that the PRESIDENT asked for additional power from the National Legislature, which was readily granted. In consequence of this resolute conduct of the Government, and before a single concession had been made to the rebels, the latter abandoned the attempt, and submitted to the law." This was something better than throwing on Heaven the responsibilities which belong to the Chief of the State. Of all things revolting to the feelings a good men nothing, hardly, can be more so than political fasting and praying. Political sermons are bad enough, in all conscience ; but to go to the throne of the Judge of all Himself, with our partizan and worldly quarrels, to make our prayers a part of our political weapons, is, as we conceive it, the highest pitch of profanity. Were, indeed, the States of America really disposed to confess their national sins before GOD, and to take steps to avert His judgment,. little doubt can there be what is their great sin against the Maker of all men. Mr. BU CHANAN ought to call on the nation to deplore its guilt, in having so long treated millions of the chiidren of their Common Father as their own pro perty—enslaved them for the lust of gain ; and the first step towards repentance, and averting the anger of Heaven, must be to take immediate mea sures for doing justice to their cruelly wronged brethren. We wonder Mr. BUCHANAN, when issuing his proclamation for a Fast, and using reli gious language like a bishop, could forget one text in the sacred volume—"ls not this the fast that I have chosen—that ye let the oppressed go free." Mr. HORSIIAN'S liberal constituents at Stroud may, in his estimation, be mistaken, but the Right Hon. Gentleman must certainly acknowledge that they are gentlemen. Nothing could possibly have been nobler, or more graceful, than the patient hear ing accorded to the ex-Minister, yesterday, by his quondam supporters—particularly when it is re membered that the electors found themselves con strained, immediately after the conclusion of Mr. HORSMAN'S lengthened and, out-spoken address, found themselves compelled, in obedience, to the dictates of their consciences, to pass, quite unani mously, against their representative, a vote of the most rigid and uncompromising condemnation. The misun derstanding between Mr. HORSMAN and his constituents is an affair not of yesterday. During the course of last Session it was , a matter of notoriety all over the United Kingdom. Upon almost all the vital questions of the day the member for Stroud was at variance with the vast majority of the Liberal electors who had sent him to Parliament. His independence was altogether too much for them in a great many particulars. It WAS so in regard to the Commer cial Treaty negotiated with France by the hon. member for Rochdale. It was so in respect to the Reform Bill introduced into the House of Commons by the noble lord the Foreign Secretary. Mr. HORSMAN was against the repeal of the Paper Duty —his constituents pined for it with an inexpressible longing. Mr. HORSMAN was decidedly against the perpetuation, and still more decidedly against the increase, of the obnoxious Income-tax—he was especially unwilling to support either of those projects in the very year which was to have seen that :hated impost abolished : he shrank with peculiar reluctance from aiding in its perpetuation, and still more in its increase, by the very financier who had solemnly pledged his honour to its ex tinction in 1860 ! For some mysterious reason, a reason still, we must confess, very difficult indeed to comprehend, the Stroud constituency was in this matter also dead againset their chosen representa tive—the electors of that liberal borough having fallen so completely under the glamour of Mr. GLADSTONZ'S rhetoric thatthefyrohmadhaiscthuaanlidyscaosmae to regard even the Income-tax boon of very rare excellence. Whatever Mr. HORS MAN did during the, l as t session within th e walls of the House of Commons was exactly the wrong thing—was exactly the very worst thing he could possibly have said or done —according to the opi nions entertained, in regard to his sayings and doings, by his constituency. Insomuch has this proved to be the case, now that t he session of 1860 has irrevocably passed away, until it has come to be looked back to from the initial month of 1861, as part and parcel of our Parlia mentary history, that the resolution carried yester day afternoon against Mr. HORSMAN by his former supporters (his still unwilling constitutents), was couched in words no less uncompromising than those hero immediately subjoined :—" That this meeting having listened to the addre§§ o Mr. HORSMAN, regrets that he has felt it his duty to pursue a course of Parlia.tnentary conduct during the past session of which it cannot but record its disapprobation—a course whicb, in their opinion, is calculated neither to promote peace or liberty in Europe, nor the true honour of this empire. This meeting desires to express its confidence in the Government, and feels disappointed that during the late session of Parliament, instead of receiving the support of Mr. NORMAN, to which it was entitled, it was subjected to repeated attacks, which this meeting considers undeserved." And it was this resolution whic l i at the close of Mr. HORSMAN'S speech in explanation of his conduct during the last Parliamentary session —it was this particularly explicit and emphatic vote of condemnation that was passed yesterday in his presence down at Stroud, by the Liberal electors there assembled to hear him, passed against him point blank nernine contradicente! H a ving listened to which extremely agreeable announcement, Mr. HORSMAN thereupon—it is edifying to note—'with the utmost possible equanimity, as one may say with the perfect coolness of Sir CHARLES COLDSTREAM, or of a Cucumber, intimated tranquilly to the electors whohad thus condemned him, that, notwithstanding the vote just passed, he yet hoped to be for many years to come the Liberal representative of the Liberal constituency in Stroud. So that while the vote itself may be regarded by Ministers not un reasonably as a brilliant feather enough to be stuck in the cap of the Coalition—when directed arrow-like against the right hon. member for Stroud it flutters against him quite innocuously. Mr. HORSMAN dealing with it in effect somewhat after the same fashion as that in which Mr. COBDEN thraatonoa to el al with Russia some years back close in our own hearing and in the vivid recollec tion still of the whole community—crumpling it up coNtemptuously as so much wastepaper! Mr. HORS MAN nay be said to have done more even than this with the et,Nutemned vote of yesterday—cramming it afterwards into his pipe [the affected Calumet of Peace with he Constituents] and smoking it ! Notwithstanding the vote, he says, he hopes to be for many years the liberal representative of that liberal constituency ! Whenever the present Par liament shall sooner or later, in the natural course of events, die the death—the electors of Stroud will probably let Mr. HORSMAN know, in terms quite as plain and as comprehensible as those addressed to him yesterday on the part of the whole body of his constituents, whether er not hope has told him a flattering tale in leading him to cherish that exceedingly rose-coloured anticipation. The settlement of the contest between Stroud and HORSMAN has again been postponed sine die, even after all the brilliant rounds fought between them yesterday with so much good temper upon both sides and with such unquestionably hard hitting. The constituents of the right hon. gentleman could not possibly have treated him, while he spoke, with more generous forbearance, as they certainly could not have expressed themselves afterwards in language of more resolute reprobation. And in reference to Mr. HORSMAN himself, it is only fair to add that in the teeth of an overwhelming opposition, he spoke right out, most manfully and unhesitatingly. He slurred over nothing, but took the chief topics of dissent between himself and his erstwhile supporters seriatim bolding them up to the light of day, turning them about and examin ing them in all directions. One of the earliest sentences uttered by him, in his lengthened speech of yesterday, sounded like the clarion of "onset" from this Free Lance of the House of Commons in the coming February. It was where he remarked, —" At home we had many unsettled questions to deal with—financial difficulties,increased taxation, a disorganised Parliament, a Ministry entirely divided against itself, and, as a consquence, every great question of principle or policy degraded into a com promise." A sentence that, replete with auguries of rare interest even in the earlier discussions of this now fast approaching session of Parliament. The part to be played in that session by Mr. HORSMAN seems to be there significantly hinted at. "We sent you to be a watch dog," cried one of the right hon. gentleman's oitmconstituentssxa harangue. yesterday , yesterday, d, Yet one of during the course of Mr. ll your complaints against me"— was his imme diate rejoinder—" is that I bark too much!' Hardly that either, Mr. HORSMAN should, in all fairness, remember. It is neither the barking nor yet the biting that the electors of Stroud object to, in his instance ; any more than the electors of Sheffield object to the barking or the biting of their own good watch-dog Tear-'em. It is rather that the Stroud Electors object to that perpe tual snarling and snapping which would cause even the most cherished favourite to degenerate into a nuisance. Besides which, and far beyond all which, when the yelping is sustained thus incessantly, when the snapping is directed against all around thus indiscriminately, it comes to pass not unnaturally that the constituency who have sent that watch-dog to Parliament begin to have a wholesome dread of a sort of political hydrophobia. Many years ago a little Jew placed his back against a well-known pillar in the old Royal ' Exchange, and before a number of gentlemen waiting eagerly to hear what fell from the oracle of the Stock Exchange said—" The Emperor of AUSTRIA shall not go to war—l pledge my word for it." And the Emperor did not go to war. The representative of the ROTHSCHILDS had his hands on the purse-strings of the representative of the HAPSBURGS, and the Jew proved himself master of the Imperial armies. Had the HAPSBURG of the day dared to defy the Jew, his ruin would have been the speedy result. But the meek Emperor was wise. He would not have feared to peril perhaps his life in battle, but he did shrink from perilling his empire in a battle with financial ' bankruptcy. The present EMPEROR seems, however, disposed to try his hand at fighting and governing without money. He has pledged everything that could be pawned, sold all he could sell, borrowed till the great money-lenders would lend no longer—consti tuted a Council of Empire, to which he pledged himself, by his own diploma, that, all important financial operations should be submitted ; and yet by an imperial decree, without consulting the Coun - eil created by Mm for that purpose, he has compelled Venetia to take paper of his own, for money ! It is, indeed, to be receivable for taxes, in part, but part of the taxes must still be paid in hard cash. In fact, finding it impossible to get a thaler more from any quarter, he has resolved to force, if he can, all the silver and gold out of Ve netia, and use it where he cannot get Austrian notes taken. The poor Venetians are to be enslaved in every form. By a foreign and hated ruler, by a foreign and ' hated army, by a foreign and hated police, and now, lastly, by foreign and hated paper money. All this is done, avowedly, because of the enormous expenses incurred in garrisoning the Quadrilateral, in order to hold the natives in subjection And, whenever liberty and emancipation shall come, the Venetians m t e h n a e t y t , h a e n i d r tphoactktehtesy willare filled with this worthless w will thus have incurred a pu blic Venetian debt which Aus trialfind can l e ave on their should ers whether the y like or not. This look s , d ou bly, as if Austria were determined to fight ; she is manufacturing by fraud the base money which will serv(that object so long as she is there, and which, atthe same time, shall be a heavy loSs to the inhbitants when she is driven out. Notwithstanding the peaceful language, therefore, of the Imperial Nev. Year's prophet, there are tot wanting, still, symp toms of war in the spring. Venetia is not to be sold, but fought or; and, as in that case no money could be got foiher, the scheme is, to have taken the money herslf while she was in posses sion. The best hope is that after the conflict Austria will dissolve Tito her numerous nationalties, and the Austrian Enpire perish in the liberty of the peoples. At St. Petersburglthe exchange has recovered to 35 15-16 d. It was latly quoted 351 d. SHOCKING CASE OP INFANTICIDE AT WOLVER HAmYroN,,—MURDER 0' TWINS.--On Tuesday afternoon the bodies of two femaleinfants were discovered in a field near the Orphanage, uner circumstances which leave little doubt that they have ben cruelly murdered. At about a quarter •past 4 o'clock Ir. W. J. Birch and Mrs. Birch, of Poulteney's-plate, wen proceeding on a bridle-way that leads from the back o the Orphanage to Goldthorn-hill, and near the footpath they discovered the bodies of two children, apparently tains. The bodies were tied in a piece of towelling, which wis covered with some black ragged stuff—a kind of merino—much worn, and they were fas tened to each other wit a piece of tape or stay lace tied round their necks. Irformation was at once given to the p o lice, and the bodies removed to the police- barracks, where they now lie, awaiting the coroner's inquest.— Wolverhampton Chrotiele. A YOUTH. DROVNED WHILST SKATING.—We regret to state that a the, intelligent lad, aged 12 years, a son of Mr. Charles Ray, of Friar-street, a member of a large and highly nspectable family, was drowned on Wednesday last, whist skating with his brother on the river Stour, near the pay. At the inquest held before the borough coroner, W. Dowman, Esq., in the afternoon of the same day, it appeared from the evidence of several per sons that the deceased Charic., with his brother Edwin, went with a companion to amuse themselves by skating on the river, but unfortunately wont down instead of up the river, the third le skating at the reach. It is supposed the two brothers either fell into a hole in the ice near the centre of the river, or that the ice gavo way. Both were were submerged, but Edwin managed with great difficulty to crawl on the ice, where he lay quite helpless, while his brother was drawn down the stream, and his body was not recovered till life was quite extinct. A verdict of acciden tal death by drowning was returned by the jury. —Bury and Norwich Post. DISASTROUS Fran IN LINCOLN 'S -INN -FIELDS . Last night, shortly before 9 o'clock, a fire, attended with a serious loss of property, happened on the extensive pre pises belonging to Messrs. Clark and Co., patentees and manufacturers of the new patent combined iron and wood revolving shutters, situate at No. 15, Gate-street, Lincoln's inn-fields. The premises wore three or four floors in height and 120 feet deep. They extended froth Gate•street to the back of the houses in Little Queen-street, and were flanked by a number of other houses in Twyford's buildings, the whole forming a block of warehouses and private dwellings containing many thousand pounds worth of property. The fire began in one of the engineers' workshops. As to the origin of the disaster not the least reliable information could be obtained. The workmen left off work at half-past five o'clock, when the factory seemed perfectly free from fire. The firm was insured for £3,000, but that sum will not, it is understood, cover the loss sustained. Loss OF LIFE BY FlRE.—Yesterday morning an accident occurred to Rhoda Argent, aged 10, who resided in Boston-court, Hackney-road, which terminated fatally. The inmates of the house were alarmed by shrieks, and on entering the room the girl was seen running up and down in a most frantic manner enveloped in flames, when she fell on the floor exhausted. Several pieces of carpet were rolled round her, and the flames extinguished. She was conveyed to St. Bartholomew's Hospital and died shortly after her admission. SUDDEN DEATH OF A GRAND JUROR.—At the Worcestershire Quarter Sessions on Tuesday, shortly after the Earl of Dudley, as chairman, had commenced his charge to the grand jury, one of that body, Mr. William Stanton, a farmer, fell down in an apoplectic fit. He was at once carried out of court by several policemen, in the hope that he might be revived by being taken into the air, but before they had crossed the threshold he had expired. MR. LINDSAY'S MISSION TO THE UNITED STATES. —Before his departure for home, Mr. Lindsay sent the fol lowing letter to the Philadelphia Board of Trade :—" New York, Nov. 21, 1860. My dear Sir,—l met the committee of the Chamber of Commerce here, as you will perceive by the reports which appear in the newspapers of this day. I may state that I have agreed with your Government on all the six points named (as also signals at sea), which will be sent by your Government to the Government of Great Bri tain by the mail of next week, and I doubt not will be rati fied by international treaty within two months from the present time. My visit, therefore, is likely to produce re sults of vast importance to both countries.—l am, yours, W. S. LINDSAY." LIVERPOOL CORPORATION FINANCIAL ESTIMATES. —At the meeting of the council yesterday the Finance Committee reportei that the estimated income for the cur rent year from all sources was £104,364, and the amount of the obligatory expenditure £84,302, leaving a gross surplus of £20,062. After deducting, however, £4,172, the amount of discretionary expenditure upon schools, public charities, &c., and £6,035 for sundry improvements already sanctioned by the council, the gross was reduced to a net surplus of £9,855. The estimated income included amongst other items £26,328 from interest on money invested, £26,000 from fines on leases, £B,BOO from the markets, £6,238 from the tobacco warehouses, £8,805 from tenants at will, and £2,383 from the river craft dock. The expenditure includes £24000 for the constabulary and police force, £lO,OOO for the borough gaol, £2,960 for the corporation churches, £2,000 for the mayor, £2,000 for the town-hall, and £3,000 for salaries and stipends, exclusive of the town clerk's department, the ex penses of which are estimated at £2,200. The tone of the mercantile letters from New York yesterday exhibits a great improvement, although the politicians at Washington continued to express very dis couraging views. " The commercial panic," it is said, "as far as New York is concerned, may be considered over." The limitation of business was expected rapidly to reduce the demand for money, which, it was thought, would be come quite easy in January. The stagnation of trade and nearly entire suspension of the merchants in the Southern Sates would, however, cause some stoppages in New York. The failure has just been announced of Edward Lambert and Co., with liabilities for more than £200,000, and the liquidation was expected to be bad. Kirkland, Chase, and Co., a large shipping house in Baltimore connected with the coffee trade, had also stopped. The gold arrivals from this side had amounted to £178,500 by the Europa and Etna, and it was supposed that the Atlantic and Persia would bring out £400,000 ; but these vessels, which sailed hence on the sth and Bth of November, took an aggregate sum of £769,450. The Secretary of the Treasury had advertised for tenders, to be sent in before the 28th, for £1,009,000 of Treasury notes. An explanation has been reoeived of the mode in which news from Pekin reaches St. Petersburg. The recent speedy telegrams regarding the Chinese treaty were transmitted, it appears, in the usual way. The Russians have a regular courier system from Pekin, with relay horses, and the despatches are delivered up to the first tele graph-office in connection with St. Petersburg which the bearer can reach. The route is via Mongolia, Kiakhta, and Irkutsk, and the common mail reaches the latter place within 16 days of its departure from Pekin. From Irkutsk to St. Petersburg 17 days are required to the telegraph office at Casan. The suspension is announced of Messrs W. Sur ridge and Son, wholesale cheesomongers and provision agents, with liabilities of about £30,000 to £40,000. Th• estate is expected to turn out favourably. GRAND TRUNK OF CANADA RAILWAY.—At the meeting of this company yesterday it was resolved, after a long discussion, to appoint a committee of seven--viz., two first preference bondholders, one second ditto, two ordinary bondholders, and two shareholders (with power to add to their number), to confer with the board for the purpose of sending a committee to Canada, and to consider generally the affairs of the eompany. The parties named were Messrs. Crawford, M.P., Newmarch, "Wheeler, Evans, Arnold, Smith, and Hartridge. The committee will also report upon a plan wnich has been proposed to provide the line with adequate rolling stock and for the extrication of the undertaking from its financial difficulties, and likewise upon the existing agreement with the Great Western of Canada. THE LATE EARL OF ABERDEEN.—The following anecdote is highly creditable to the nobleman who has just passed away. Some years since, when Lord Derby was in power, and Lord Aberdeen was ranging himself with the Peelites in Opposition, a Scottish professor of eminence died, leaving his family very slenderly provided for. An application was made to Lord Aberdeen to assist in getting the widow on the pension list. His lordship immediately wrote, in reply, that he was not on such terms with the Government as tc, ask a favour; but he alluded very feel ingly to the death of the professor, whose acquaintance he had cultivated, and in whose works he had found instruc tion and delight, and he begged his correspondent to give the family a cheque for £lOO which he enclosed, and to present it in as delicate a way as possible. Almost as soon as Lord Aberdeen succeeded to power he secured a pension to the widow and family. The deceased peer had a shy and reserved manner, which was an obstacle in the way of his popularity, but he was known to be a man of much prac tical benevolence. He was a kind and liberal patron to rising men of talent belonging to Aberdeenshire, and was the means of bringiag some of them into favourable notice. One of his proteges was Mr. Giles, the distinguished animal ( painter,—lnverness Courier. -- II r i E S N E W (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) PARIS, THURSDAY MORNING. The Moniteur contains decrees appointing M. Michel Chevalier, Grand Officer, and M. Esezroe- Delanture, Commander of the Legion of Honour. In its daily political review, the Moniteur states that financial events in foreign countries have influenced the French money market in a manner to be regretted ; but declares the report that the French Government is under the necessity of having recourse to a new loan to be without any foundation. The Moniteur also states that the amount of Treasury Bonds does not at the present moment exceed 75,000,000 f. VIENNA, JAN. 3. The official Wiener Zeitung 'announces that, in consequence of the death of the Bing of Prussia, the Austrian Court will go into mourning for four weeks. Both the Court theatres will remain closed to-day by Imperial orders. The Wiener Zeitung also says :—" We are autho rised to declare all reports of the retirement of Count Rechborg from the Ministry to be totally unfounded." DRESDEN, JAN. 2. The official Dresden journal, in reply to the article of the Wiener Zettung on the arrest of Count Teleky, states that the Austrian Government had announced the approaching arrival of Count Teleky to the Saxon Government, and on the day of his arrest already demanded his extradition ; a request which fur sums days Saxony delayed acceding to. TURIN, JAN. 2 (Evening). It is asserted that Prince Carignan is about to proceed to Naples as Lieutenant of the King, in the place of Farini, and that he will be accompanied by the Commander Nigra. ST. PETERSBURG, JAN. 2. A new Russian loan, amounting to 100,000,000 of silver roubles, has been contracted, and com pletely raised by subscription among the merchants and other classes of the inhabitants of Russia. FRANCE. It does not appear that the order of recall has yet been sent to the French fleet at Gaeta. Here they are waiting for reports from the com manders of corps before deciding on the return of all or part of the French army in China. It seems that in Cochin China France limits itself to maintaining the occupation of Saigan (or Saigong), with a small belt of territory, without any view to further acquisition or conquest. BOURSE, Jan. 2.—The market has presented exactly the same heaviness to-day as the day before yesterday. Threes opened at 67f 25c, and have since been done at 67f 20c ; Diobilier, 712 f 50c ; Orleans, 1,361 f 25e ; Northern, 975 f ; Lyons, 890 ; Austrian, 576 f 25c ; Lombard, 461 f 25c. The following were the last quotations : 4t per per Cents 96 65 Do end month 96 55 3 per Cents Do. end month 67 25 Bank Shares 2890 Credit Mobiliar 715 Do. Account 720 Credit Foncier 945 Belgian 4k., — Piedmontese FiTOB 7B 75 Roman Austrian Spanish Threes 5O Home Debt RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. • Orleans 1358 75 .. 1355 Northern New ditto BB5 880 Lyons and Mediterranean 890 .. 888 75 Geneva — .. 365 Southern 6lO .. 511 25 Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lowbard - MESSINA. A letter from Messina, in the Gazelle du Midi, says :—" The garrison of the citadel and the inhabi tants of the town continued to live in good fellow ship until a few days ago, when, the money-chest of the former being empty, the latter refused to make any supplies. On that, General Pergola was about to obtain credit by meats of a partial bombardment, but fortunately two French steamers chartered by King Francis 11. arrived with clothing, provisions, and money, and that incident immediately re-established harmony." A Frankfort letter says : The Federal army, without including the Austrian contingent, has now 35 batteries of rifled cannon made on the Prussian system. In the largest contingents the formation in three ranks has been replaced by that in two, in order to give the troops greater rapidity of movement. The men of the third rank are to form a fourth battalion, and the number of officers is to be increased. A Berlin letter of the 31st says :—The Prussian army, according to an approximative estimation, Should contain from 13,003 to 14,000 officers, whereas the actual muster-rolls only contain 9,600, of who m 7,000 belong to the regular army and 2,600 to the Landwehr. Though between this and autumn, the military have to supply 900 more officers, the number will still be 3,500 less than the full complement. With respect to the medical staff, matters are still worse, as there are but very few surgeons." The Madrid journals of the 27th, 28th, and 29th ult.—those of the first two days delayed by the weather—have arrived. The Clamor Publico, in the name of the Liberal party, expresses great satisfaction at the appointment of Sir J. Crampton as English Minister at Madrid. The Espana states that Messrs. de Rothschild have refused to comply with a request addressed to them by the Emperor of Morocco to make a loan sufficient to pay the indemnity due to Spain. • • MOURNFUL INTELLIGENCE FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN MISSION.—A letter from the intrepid missionary, Robert Moffat, to the London Missionary Society, commu nicates some mournful intelligence. It is dated from Kuru murn, Nov. 12, 1860 :—" It is only four days since I for warded a letter to you, which contained all the information which had then reached us respecting the Makololo brethren. It was favourable ; but, alas I alas I it was only to lift us up that we might bo plugged into the depths of sorrow. Alas I Helmore, the amiable, the unwearied, and apostolic Helmore, and his devoted wife, are no more in habitants of this lower world. This distressing intelligence has just reached us by one of our people, who had been on an elephant hunt as far as the Victoria Falls on the Zana • hew. He there met with some people from Linyanti, who, when asked respecting the welfare of the missionaries, replied, in the phraseology of the country, that they were all dead with the fever ; and, commencing with the name of the first victim, said Helmore died, then his wife, next two of his children, then the suckling of Mrs. Price ; the next was Malatsi, a man of this station, Mr. P.'s waggon driver ; the next Tabe, of Lekatlong, who had accompanied Mr. Helmore to render him what assistance he could ; and the last that seems to have died was a servant of the Bakhatla tribe. The son of Tabe was in a dying • state, and not affording the slightest hope of recovery. Just ten days after the relation of these events to Joseph Aaron (our informant), Dr. Living stone arrived at the Victoria Falls, accompanied by his brother and Dr. Kirk. Dr. Livingstone was, as well might be expected, deeply affected with the news of the death of so many of the Mission party, and regretted much that he had not been able to come at an earlier period, as he pos sessed a very efficacious remedy for the fever." THE EMPRESS EUGENIE. The great-great grandmother of Eugenie, the Empress of the French, was born in the old mansion-house of Couston—part of which is still standing —near Bathgate. She was named Isabel Sandilands, being the eldest daughter of the Hon. William Sandilands of Couston, third son of John, fourth Lord Torphichen (1682). She was married to Sir Thomas Kirk patrick of Closeburn, while her only sister married Thomas Marjoribanks of that Ilk, in the parish of Bathgate. These facts are attested by an old genealogical paper, dated 1646, in the possession of Mr. Durham Weir of Boghead, Bath gate, and who farther traces through the Sandilands and other ancient Scottish families her Imperial Majesty'. dsecent from Robert IL—Scotsman. THE BRAZILIAN MAIL. SOUTHAMPTON, JAN. 3. The Royal Mail Company's steamer, Magdalena, Capt. l'irool ward, with the above, has arrived. She brings 48 passengers, £29,331 specie, 16 packaged diamonds, 725 rolls tobacco, 32 bales ditto, and 154 parcels samples, The Magdalena sailed from Buenos Ayres the 27th November; Monte Video, 30th ; Rio de Janeiro, 9th December; Bahia, 13th; Pernambuco, 16th; and St. Vincent, the 22d. On the 21st ult., spoke the Calliope, bound from London to Calcutta, 26 days out. 28th, the ship Blythe, or 2d Dis. Pendant, No. 1,630 ; the Sardi nian brig Silvistria ; the Bremen ship Equator; and on the 21st of December, the Tyne, with the outward Brazil mail—all well. Her Majesty's ships Leopard and Ardent were at Monte Video, The Tartar arrived at Rio on the 7th of December. The Spy sailed from Bahia for Rio on the 13th of December. At Pernambuco the weather continued fine. The arrivals of sugar had been large, and demand fair, and large purchases made both on the spot and at outports. Whites ruled from 6.600 dole to 4,800 dols per aroba for first and second quality ; 4.300 dols to 4.700 dols per aroba for thirds ; and 4.300 dole to 3.800 dole per ditto for fourth quality and somenos. None of these qualities had been shipped for Europe this season. Channel browns sold at 2.600 dols per aroba, but in con sequence of late accounts received from the United States a reduction was expected in the latter descriptions. Cotton prices varied Prom 7.800 dole, to 8.600 per arroba, but purchases were made at from 8.000 dole, to 8.200. Hides sold at 2271 r. to 230 r. per lb. Shipments to Liverpool 1,433. Freights—Sugar, for the Channel, for orders quoted at 275. 6d. Exchange-0210,000 sterling had been nego tiated during the month, all at 90 days' sight, at rates varying from 251 d. to 261 d., according to term of payment. About 250,000 f. were pass ed on Paris at 360 to 365 reis per franc ; on Hamburg at 680 to 684 reis per mark; the same amount on Portugal at 105 to 106 per cent. Discount rates at the Banks, 10 per cent. per annum:for four months' bill, higher rates for longer dates. At Bahia sugars arrived but sparingly, and no sales of importance had transpired. Last quota tions were 2 dole to 2 dols 250 e per arroba for Naza reths. Cotton stocks were being gradually cleared off at delivery of late sales, at 7 dols 800 c per ar roba, for home consumption. Coffee, no sales transpired ; dealers still occupied with delivery of late sales, at 5 dols 100 c to 5 dols 200 c. Cocoa, little remained at market, and 4 dols 800 c was demanded. Hides, no sales effected ; quotations unaltered, 225 r. per lb. for dry salted. Freights to Gibraltar, 50s. per ten. Exchange—Regular transactions effected at 261 and 261, 90 days. Bills remain in the market. Rio—Coffee—A limited business has been done sales not exceeding 31,500 bags. On receipt of the news by the Magdalena there was a fall of fully 200 reis in the prices; the extent of the transactions has been 246,500 bags. Good fruits are quoted 5 dols 500 c to 5 dols 700 e. Exchange on London, 27d. Freights to England, 40s. ; Channel, 555. to 60s. INDIAN PRIZE' vice PRIZE-.IIONEY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sin,--Will you allow me, through your influential paper, to make inquiries as to the issue of prize• money for India? Is this policy the policy for the times ? Is it expedient, when mutiny is rising in our European army, to keep back the just dues from English officers and soldiers ? lam an officer, and have served there under a blazing sun, and hardship, and toil, of long, weary marches after the rebel Tantia Topeo, and the Indian-offico, in "magnanimous generosity," have only given me a silver picture of the Queen. This is a prize ; but what men want is prize-money, to pay for years of toil and sickness. ONE OF THE WOUNDED IN INDIA. P.S.—Regarding the modal, I value it, and wear it for her beloved Majesty's sake ; but I would add, may be face tiously, "all is not gold that glitters." C.4NTERBURY BALL. Amongst the greatest novelties prepared for the holiday makers s.t this festive season of the year is a " Pantomimic Sketch" at this A ftraotivo plaoo of amusement. It em braces 18 different characters, in an " introduction and harlequinade," very cleverly played by two persons, who are rarely off the "stage," and who, by the impetuosity of their drollery and thorough abandonment to the spirit of pantomime, keep the audience in a roar from first to last. There is no scenery, but all is bustle and action. The characters, played in rapid succession, include a couple of embonpoint fairies—intensely musical and terpsychorean—who open the ball with initiatory ex planations : the conventional plough-boy lover and his love. sick lass; the " parient," indignant at that love, and his soothing sister, cordial bottle in hand ; two demons front the coal mines, who lead to the " Transformation (without a) Scene ;" clown and pantaloon, &c. The changes of dress are managed with astonishing rapidity, and the get ting up of the characters, down to every minutiae of dress and mask, is admirable. The dialogue and songs contain some r %tilling hits at passing follies; and both is action and in verbal quip and crank, this little piece do resistance contains the quintessence of a regular pantomime. In addition to the above Mr. Morton has secured the services of two very talented performers, who go through a number of astonishing feats, which are a great improve ment upon the usual style of acrobatic entertainments. The painful distortions are entirely done away with, and in place of which we have some of the neatest "tricks" ever attempted. Of course, we cannot undertake a full descrip tion of their entertainment, but in order to give some idea of it, we may mention that they, while in the act of turn ing this summersaults, accompany themsalve s on the violin. The applause they elicit is immense. The operatic selections for the week are taken from " La Figlia del Reggimento," " Norma,"," Sonnambula," and "Martha," the principal solo parts being sustained by Misses Russell, Tyrell, Williams, Madame Maria, Messrs. Norbert, Bernard, and Signor Tivoli. A great addition has lately been made to the comic de partment by the engagement of Mr. J. Blanchard, who bids fair to become as great a favourite as the renowned Sam Cowell. • We recommend all those who wish for a cheerful and entertaining evening's amusement to visit the Canterbury Hall. FRIGHTFUL COLLIERY ACCIDENT AT ALANSTON, NEAR LEEDS. Major Wand, of Manston, the eminent colliery proptietor, has been kir some time past engaged in sinking a shaft on Brown Moor, near Whitkirk, Leeds, with the object of reaching the deep Beeston bed of coal, which lies at a distance of 200 yards from the surface. At the bye-pit, which is already sunk 120 yards, and which goes by the name of the "New Odd," the sinkers have been very much inconvenienced by the stream of water which flows into the shaft, and renders the use of expensive pumping -engines necessary. On Tuesday morning, a little after seven o'clock, Robert Taylor, a man about 40 years of ago, W. Ambler, a young man of 20, and the overman, Thomas Greenhow by name, were on the cradle or half-moon of the bye-pit, on their way to their work at the bottom. The engine had only given a half -stroke when the crank broke, and the three men were precipitated to the bottom of the shaft. The brake was on, and would probably have the effect of keeping the cradle exactly perpendicular in its fearful descent, but it did not further act in the way of arresting the progress of the men. It is thought that the brake would not bite owing to the slipperiness of the machinery, caused by the frosty weather. As soon as possible after the accident, " crabbs" were got into requisition, and Greenhow, who was alive, and had sustained himself in the water, which was live yards in depth, by the aid of a piece of wood, was brought to the surface about eight o'clock. He was in a very ex hausted condition, but will be fully recovered, having sus tained no severe bruises, in the course of a day or two. At nine o'clock the bodies of Taylor and Ambler were also brought to bank, and as they were not disagured by their fearful fall it is thought they must have been suffocated in the water. Taylor has left a family ; Ambler was unmar ried. The inquest will be held this (Thursday) morning, at the Lion and Lamb Inn, Seacroft. Mr. Morton, the Government Inspector of Collieries, made yesterday a full examination of the machinery of the pit, and he will give the result of his inspection before the coroner's jury. The Isle of Wight mail packet, while proceeding between Ryde and Cowes, yesterday, was struck near the stern by a shot from the shore, where gunnery practice was going on. The captain, fearing some serious damage was done, prepared to lower his boats to save the passengers. The steersman had just altered the course, or the shot would have raked the stern and probably have killed some of the passengers. The steamer Pera, which will leave on Friday, will take £154,376 in specie, of which £8,168 is gold and the rest silver, S u bj o i ne d are the particulars, viz. :—For Calcutta, silver, £73,490, and gold, £65 ; shangliae , s il ver , £67,883; Hong K ong, silver, 4735 ; M a d ra s, gold, X 7,103 ; Singapore, gold, £1,000 ; and for Malta, silver, £lOO. ALLEGED ENCROACHMENI ON PUBLIC RIGHTS AT IfIGINATE. Yesterday afternoon, at a meeting of the St. Pan cras Representative Vestry, the subject of an at tempt about to be made to close an ancient public foot-path, leading from the end of Swain's-lane, at the foot of Highgate-hill, to Highgate-church, was brought under consideration, and memorials were presented on the subject. Mr. Churchwarden CARTER occupied the chair, and a report was read from the Highways, Sewers, and Public Works Committee, stating that the com mittee had taken into consideration a letter which had been received from Miss Burdett Coutts, calling upon the vestry to close up a lane called Love-lane, or Bromages-lane, Highgate ; that the committee, having also viewed the locality, recommended that the footpath should not be closed or abandoned, being a right of way for the public, but that it should be properly repaired and drained, for which they had directed the surveyor to prepare estimates. Two memorials were presented, one from the in cumbent and curate of St. Michael's, Highgate, and another from the incumbent and some forty or fifty of the inhabitants of St. Ann's, Brookfield, stating that the lane known as " Bromages-lane," or Love lane, leading from the north end of Kentish-town by Swain's-lane to Highgate, was of no use or bene fit to the inhabitants, but for some years past had been the resort of improper characters, and from the immoralities practised there a great nuisance ; that there were several schools in the neighbour hood, including the endowed public school of Sir Roger Cholmondeley ; and as allowing the lane to remain open only tended to immorality and was of no public benefit, the memorialists submitted that instead of any parish money being spent thereon, it should be at once closed. Mr. SILAS TAYLOR said he had a memorial to present, which was signed by the whole of the clergy of Kentish-town and the northern districts, by 20 members of that board, and by upwards of 300 rate payers of Highgate and Kentish -town, praying the vestry not to listen to the attempt to close this right of way against the public. The memorialists stated that, understanding an attempt was being made to stop up the footpath (known as Bromages-walk") leading across the fields from Swan's-lane to Highgate, they urged the vestry not to sanction, under the plea of immoralities having occurred there (but which was denied by the police), so unjust an encroachment on the rights of the public, closing, as it would, one of the few retired and rural walks still left in the neighbour hood of the metropolis, and debarring the inhabi tants of our crowded streets and thoroughfares from seeking within so accessible a distance of their own dwellings that fresh air and healthy exercise which would thus be lost to them for ever. He moved that this memorial be received and en tered upon the minutes. Mr. O. CRANE seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. DOUGLAS said there could be no doubt this was a public right of way. He could remember it himself 60 years ago. (Hear, hear.) Mr. ECKETT said the subject was an important one, and he moved that all 4 the memorials be taken into consideration when the estimates were brought up. This was seconded and carried unanimously. THE JFE,4THER. The frost has returned to the metropolis with considerable intensity. Before midnight on Tues day the wind changed from the south-west to the northern point of the compass, when the thermo meter fell rapidly, until it had descended two degrees below the freezing register. The result was that the streets were by midnight perfectly dry and every puddle frozen. At sunrise the sky was quite clear, the atmosphere exceedingly brac ing, and the wind keen and brisk, Nor did any change take place during the day, with the exception of the appearance, at intervals, of a few fleecy clouds, the barometer continuing meanwhile to rise towards " fair," and the thermometer never sinking below the line marked " freezing," even where fully exposed to the sun. Mr. Bokenham, the Controller r . of the Circulation Department of the Post-office, issued in the course of the morning a notice to the effect that the bags for the follow ing post towns had not arrived when the morning mails outward, and the town letters, were sent out for delivery, viz., Stowmarket, Needham Market, Grantham, Port Glasgow, Greenock, Paisley, Hereford, Leominster, Ludlow, Rhayader, Tenbury, and Kingston. The whole of the low lands for many miles in the midland and south-eastern counties—the mail guards reported —were under water, and to an extent not witnessed for many years past. Large numbers of persons visited the various parks yesterday for the purpose of skating. The ice on the Serpentine, however, had been rendered so dangerous by the thaw of Sunday and Monday, that the officers •of the Royal Humane Society endoavoured to prevent persons from venturing upon it. They were generally successful in this, though in spite of them some few people were bold enough to run the risk, being in some cases re warded by falls and broken heads. The ice on the ornamental water in St. James' Park and on the Long Water in Kensington Gardens, was in a much better condition, and some thousands of persons enjoyed themselves upon it during the day, no serious accident occurring. The ice in the Regent's Park was dangerous, and the public were not al lowed upon it. FEARFUL SCENE ON THE NORTRUM BERLAND COAST. SHIELDS, lan. I . —lmmediately after sending my despatch from here this morning, intelligence came into the town that a brig was in great distress off the coast, and was drifting in towards the shore. Mr. Byrne, the chief boatman of the Coastguard at the Spanish Battery at Tynemouth, with his crew and a number of seafaring men, immediately got out Manley's apparatus,with rockets, arc., and pro ceeded along the coast with them. The sea at that time was fearful—higher than it has almost ever been known, and breaking at least five miles from the shore, and there was every appearance that the unfortunate vessel would be engulphed with her crew, before assistance could reach them. The mas ter of the vessel, however, with considerable pru dence, chose a good beach—Whitley Sands—on which he ran her to attempt to save the lives of him self and crew, but the vessel being, unfortunately, coal laden, she struck a considerable distance from the shore—so far that the rockets would not carry to her. The Percy lifeboat, belonging to the Na tional Lifeboat Institution at Cullercoats, was then sent for, but some of the fishermen having blocked the approaches to the lifeboat-house up with cables and other craft, a delay of half an hour occurred before the boat could be got away. It was dragged along the coast by six horses, and launched from the sands amid great excitement, for by this time nearly all the fishing population in the district had gatheredupon the sands. The boat was well manned with an excellent crew of Cullercoats fisher men, Mr. Byrne, of the Coastguard, going off with them. They pulled out bravely through the raging sea, and got the lif e b oa t a l ongs i de the brig and hooked her. At the time they did so the sea was making a complete breach over the vessel, sweeping her decks and leaping half way up her rigging. The crew were in the rigging, but as soon as the life boat got alongside they came on to the deck. They had no sooner done so than three of them were swept off the deck into the water between the lifeboat and the sh i p. By the admirable manner with which the lifeboat was handled and her fine sea pro- ,' perties the three poor fellows were laid hold of, the last man by the hair of his head as he was sinking, and they were dragged into the lifeboat and saved. Other two of the men got from the vessel to the lifeboat, but a poor lad remained on board. His t , cries were piti a bl e , an d several gallant efforts were made to rescue hi m , b u t none of them succeeded. / The vessel at last began to break tip, and the life boat crew had only time to cut the rope holding her to the ship and she was swept under her stern, 1 , when the ship's mainmast fell over into the sea I, just where the lifeboat had lain, and the ship broke in two and drowned the poor lad. The five men rescued were brought ashore in a very exhausted condition, and had to be carried to a neighbouring .; farmhouse, where they were carefully attended to, and, though one of them is badly cut about the , head, they are a ll likely to recover. The vessel proved to b e th e Saucy Nancy. of Seaham, a bri g of about 16 k ee l s. She was laden, and it is stated had two men swept from her decks on New Year's eve at sea. CommanderliiS , liemdal, Capt. Gibraltar for Copenhagen, G c i o b r r v a e lt t a t e panis s h hu M iz a , je fr s o ty m 's Which put into plymouth Sound on the 29th ult. for fuel, left on Monday afternoon for her des tination. _ ... A STRANGE TEXT.—In one of the Aberdeen churches, o n Saturday, a y oung preacher somewhat asto n ished the congregation by giving out as his text the last four verses of the first chapter of the Ist Book of Chronicles :—" The Dukes of Edom tvere—Duke Tirana, Duke Allah, Duke Jethoth, Duke Aholibama, Duke Elah, Duke Pinon, Duke Kenaz, Duke Teman, Duke Mabzar, Duke Magdiel, Duke Ira m . T hese are the Dukes of Edom." Though the text was, as an inielligent lady of the old school remarked, " gey affectit kin," it was very well handled—the burden of the lesson being—Who were these men ? what has been the influence of their lives ? and what will In tlAg iiifluence of your life and mine ? posed Th to the Thi menti in the ever, great struct the N the( the E the Al the L Easte £227 Tho have tion%. Col Publi mainl and c, travel and t impr( to ls. Fo rate e per vance Th Aust 121 I In have Prefc lei ,~ NO brou been great for e: bulli, conti this in th At J. E sent( the disci the of £ ing i vest 'll 15th £2, conti Char N. lust Equ ilex Port Rua Spa; :;, D 8 pai Tur Vex Aue Dui