The Sun. — London, England, 1861-12-26 00:00:00

THE suN. LONDON, THURSDAY, DEC. 26, 1861. American Cabinets are curiosities, or contain them, beyond anything to be found on this side of the water, and in our tame old Europe. Think of Mr. GLADSTONE 'wishing to put his own views on some most weighty point before the country, though he knew them to be in direct opposition to those of the Prime Minister and of a majority of the Cabinet —think of his sending a copy of the speech he intended to deliver in Parliament to all the news papers of England, to be set up ready for publish ing- the morning after he had made it—and this with the knowledge that his Chief, and the rest of his colleagues would compel him to omit the para graphs on which he laid m)st stress—think of our Chancellor of the Exchequer thus contriving to put both what he would like to propose, and what the Cabinet compelled him to omit, before the whole country, and it will be the exact counterpart of what has just been done by Mr. CAMERON in re gard to the President and the rest of his Cabinet. Mr. CAMERON is strongly in favour of vigorous action, almost amounting to emancipation, in regard to the slaves. He quotes the threats of the Southern leaders against Northern property with which they entered on the war, and which they wanted not the will but the power to carry into effect. He argues that they had, by making war on the Government, justly forfeited all right to protection of their pro perty by the constitution against which they h a d rebelled. He then adverts to the peculiarity of the property of the South in the labour of Africans and their descendants, and contends that, as the Government cannot confiscate slave property by selling it into fresh slavery, it must do so by using the slaves liberated by war, in whatever way will be most for the advantage of the war on their side. What shall be done with the slave property after the war he would leave time and circumstances to de cide—but regards it as plain that once liberated by the rebellious act of their masters they could never again be restored to bondage—the rights of loyal slaveholders must unquestionably be secured— we presume he means that they must be remunerated for the loss of their slaves. He maintains that it is idle to think of carrying on the war without avail ing themselves of all the resources at their command. Ahis longatu e argum en t a ti ve d eman d th e PRE v, struck out befo re to Con gress the report was reported , sub stituting a short paragraph on what can best be done with the slaves whom the army finds in the neighbourhood of Port Royal. So the country has now before it the full views of the Secretary for War, and of the Secretary's master, to endorse which it pleases. Yet we hear of no dismissal, or resignation, or anything of the kind; master and servant agree to differ in the face of the whole country—it being per haps understood that Mr. CAMERON writes what he knows Mr. LINCOLN would prefer to write, and Mr. LINCOLN, what he thinks his post requires him to say. On the whole, things look rather favourably towards abolition. The PRESIDENT retains the services of the Minister who writes so strongly—he permits a kind of Cabinet rebellion, and an appeal from one of his servants to the sove reign people. Surely the probability is that he thinks it in some way useful that such language should go abroad from his Cabinet, though not exactly from him. It is proclaiming to the South the course which opinion is taking, and which, therefore, he must soon follow. He may expect that the language of Mr. CAMERON may be of service in terrorem, and help to avert the necessity of its being acted on. One thing is certain—the fight on Abolition now pervades the Cabinet, the Senate, the Representatives, and the whole country —and that military necessity,if the war goes on,may very soon compel opponents of emancipation to yield to the demand. The longer the case of the Trent is under discus sion the more completely does the English view of it gain support. The French letter is evidence enough of what, on looking at broad features, an impartial judge must think; and precedents of more or less perfect application have continued to be dug up by the learned in such lore. Most of these have been imperfect in some minor point, though no candid person could doubt of their general relevance. But one sent to a contemporary by a correspondent who signs himself "D. C. L.," appears to " run on all fours so completely with the case of the Trent that it is not easy to see what an American can reply to it. It should be observed that the Americans can make out no case at all if they abide by their own demands and precedents. At any time they would have resented any outrage to their flag identical with that offered by them in the case of the Trent, and perhaps have gone to war for satisfaction. The only plausible part of their case has been that we should be inconsistent in claiming them after the precedents set by our own Courts. In fact, the con tention has been of the singular character, that each party might be answered from its own pre cedents ; we could show the Americans to be in consistent, and they could at least produce cases which primafacie would make us appear inconsistent in demanding restitution. We do not indeed allow for a moment that any case yet has applied to what has always seemed to us, as it does to the French Government, the strong part of our case—the sail ing of the Trent between neutral ports—still they made out a case plausible enough, if we should con descend to arbitration, to make a long affair of it. But the case of the Hendric and Alinda, cited by " D. C. L.," seems to be perfectly conclusive—and conclusive a fortiori. It is a case which occasioned so much discussion at the time that the wonder is our civil lawyers did not remember it before, and it is a case in which an English judge decided in favour of the Americans, then at war with us. The Dutch were at amity with us ; the Americans at war with us ; the Dutch vessel, the Hendric and Alinda, had on board not only warlike stores, but five military officers who frankly confessed to Lord MULGRAITE, that they held commissions in the rebel army, issued by FRANKLIN and DEANE, the Commissioners of the rebel provinces at Paris, and that on their arrival at St. Eustatia, a Dutch West point, they were to address themselves to cer tain agents of the American Congress, who wore to forward them onwards to the rebel army. The military character of the passengers was thus placed beyond dispute, and their ultimate hostile destina tion was avowed by them, yet when this case was taken before our Admiralty Court, the judge over ruled? all the pleas founded on the undoubted destination of the ship's cargo and passengers, on the broad ground that the ship was only sailing between neutral ports, and that he could not take cognisance of intentions. The proxi mate destination of the passengers was an innocent destination, and they were set at liberty. We are surely now entitled to tell the Americans not only that the informality of taking contraband of war out of a vessel prior to condemnation is an intolerable outrage on the code indispensable to the security of neutrals, but that the act itself was illegal—that they could not be allowed to take any thing whatever from, or to condemn before any court, a vessel sailing from a neutral port to a neutral port. We have now not only the judgment of France, but we have the judgment of the very courts to 'which the Americans rely against us— our own Admiralty Courts. Americana have "appealed unto C/ESAR, and to CiESAR they shall go, " and CiRSAR'S clear judgment is, we do not allow our own ships to seize vessels notoriously and confessedly carrying arms and mi litary officers for a hostile power, but sailing proxi mately from one neutral port to another. We beg to offer Messrs. EVERETT and SUMNER, Capt. WILKES and the American Navy Board, with the House of Representatives, the case of the Hendrio and the Alinda with the compliments of the season. Mr. THWAITES has thrown out certain sugges tions of his own in regard to the supplementary scheme of constructing a Southern as well as a Northern Embankment on the river Thames. He entitles these notions of his, simply " Points for the Consideration of the Thames Embankment Com mission in reference to the Embankment of the South Side, by J. THWAITES, Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works." He ranges these " Points" under Four Heads, and expresses his opinion upon each with perfect lucidity and dis tinctness. Anything that Mr. THWAITES might think it reasonable to suggest upon a matter of such vital importance to the well-being of one half of the metropolis would at all times be attentively listened to. When, however, it is already borne in mind that—as matters now stand—we are defini tively committed to the project of a Northern Em bankment, it may be readily understood that Mr. TIIWAITES' views as to the advisability of a Southern Embankment are secure, indeed, of an attentive audience, of an audience not only willing but eager to hear what a man in his position and with kis experience can possibly suggest under the circum stances. Taking for granted as proven the necessity s agu e f for r ata Southern Embankment, Mr. THW AITE the outset of his remarks that it might still be ad vantageous to consider at starting the principal reasons capable of being adduced in behalf of such an undertaking.. And foremost among these reasons he very naturally considers thG increased need there will quite obviously be for such an embankment, in consequence of the transformation of the whole existing state of things along the entire length of the river where it bisects the metropolis, because simply of the construction of the embankment upon the north side. In particularising this paramount reason, however, for a Southern ' embankment, Mr." TUWAITES only specifies, so to speak, one view of it. As thus :—" The plan already reported on," he writes, " for the northern side demands the removal of very large quantities of deposit from the shoals in the river, / many of which immediately adjoin the southern shore ; this operation will have a great tendency to cause a constant settlement towards the deepened portion of the river's bed, and consequent injury to the piling, wharf walling, and other defences on that side; some of these are already old and decayed, or were originally but imperfectly adapted to their situation, and hence we may conclude that it will be necessary to provide a solid wharf wall along all that part of the southern shore which fronts the embankment previously recommended." In arguing thus, Mr. THWAITES only maintains the need there will be for something or other in the way of a southern embankment for simple safety's sake, A great deal might, however, besides this, be appended to his remarks just quoted, insisting upon the necessity for a southern em bankment, by reason of the mere look of things, along the Silent Highway of the Metropolis, sup posing the Thames were to be embanked upon the north, and to be left in its present squalid and dilapidated, and disgraceful condition along the south, In such a contingency, the mere con trast of this side and that would be something frightful to think of. The river in its present pligLt is bad enough. It is, to all intents and purposes, the back entrance to the capital. It is almost the last rcute by which a Londoner would dream of introducing a foreigner to the world-famous twin cities of London and Westminster. In effecthe would only dream of doing anything of the kind upon one supposition namely, that the old ramshackle wharves and filthy mud banks and loathsome sewer entrances were hidden from view by a dense London fog. He might be proud enough, this loyal Londoner, to direct the stranger's attention to our magnificent bridges, to the noble river front of Somerset House, to the gloriously beautiful façade of the new Palace at Westminster, and previously— oia coming up the river from among the shipping in the Pool—to the ancient Towers of Julius and the noble dome of St. Paul's Cathedral looming over the housetops among the clustering steeples and church towers of the metro polis. But the intermediate portion of the river bank between the Castom House and Somerset House, between Somerset House and the New Palace at Westminster—well, all that the loyal Londoner would naturally enough like to have care fully veiled from the sight of the observant foreigner ! The Adelphi Terrace, in point of fact, being the only range of dwelling-houses along the whole line of the north bank really in any way at all worth looking at. The entire of the southern side of the river, from opposite the Tower of London up to the Archbishop of CANTERBURY'S Palace at Lambeth,beinguninterruptedlyhideons—with every kind and form of river side hideousness. Embank the Thames upon the north side exclusively, there fore, beautify the northern bank alone, leaving the southern bank exactly as it is, and you will not only render it unsafe in the manner explained by Mr. TUWAITES, but you would effectually bring out to view, with more than ever painful vividness, all the squalor, filth, and ugliness, for which it is already quite lamentably enough remarkable. But Mr. THWAITES has not by any means done yet with the necessity he recognises there will be for a Southern Embankment of the river by reason of the construction of the projected northern embank ment. " There is another urgent reason," he says, "for a southern embankment, which must exercise a considerable influence on the framing of any scheme for that side, viz., its liability to con stant injury from flooding. The extent of this evil ; its heavy pressure on the large labouring population of the parishes adjoining the river ; the misery, sickness, and death produced by its periodical occurrence, with the consequent heavy charges on the rates, can only be thoroughly appreciated by those who have themselves wit nessed its effects." He then considers, in a few suggestive words, how this inevitable increase of the already existing liability of the inhabitants of London along the southern bank of the river to endure the miseries of this uncertain and destructive flooding may be the most effectually obviated. " Obviously," he writes, "to carry out thoroughly any effective remedy the future embankment must be of sufficient height to be above the reach of the highest tide, viz., 16 feet above Ordnance datum, and it should be, at least, conterminous with the thickly-inhabited portion of London beyond the Thames. Its pre cise limits will depend upon the evidence here after to be laid before the commission, but the ter mination of the embankment already carried out by her MAJESTY'S office of works in connection with Battersea-park and bridge might form a con venient commencement on the western side. Some difference of opinion will probably exist as to its extent eastwards, but it must be remem bered that London-bridge forms neither a moral nor material limit of the metropolitan area; the inhabitants of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe suffer equally from floods with those of Lambeth and St. Saviour's, and are equally contributory to metro politan burdens." Having considered these two conspieuous Points—first of all, the weakening of the southern banks by the exclusive construction of a Northern Embankment; and secondly, the cer tainty there would be through an obdu rate persistence in that one-sided course of improvement (?) of multiplying for the Surrey side population the dangers of flooding— Mr. TUWAITES throws out his suggestions upon two other points, points these, in effect, of the most vital importance to the wellbeing of the whole scheme of any embank ment at all. The former of these two points relates to a matter we ourselves have very fre quently before now taken into consideration— namely, the improvement of the means of communi cation between the east and west of the metropolis, between London and Westminster, or in other words between Bermondsey and Lambeth. Enough, however, for our present purpose if we subjoin ono pithy suggestion of Mr. TEIWAITES, thrown out at ;be close of his examination in reference to the last and, in one sense, no doubt, the first of all the vari ous details of the subject, i.e., the financial branch of it. Beyond any question, it is a matter surrounded at the present moment upon all sides with very considerable difficulties. "It is clear," writes Mr. TUWAITES, with unwelcome but whole- some distinctness, " that the revenues ascribed by Parliament to the construction of a northern em- bankment will fall short of what will be required for the project shadowed forth in the preceding re marks, even should the present coal dues be ex- tended from ten to twenty years. It is equally clear," he adds, " that no local source of income can be looked for to supply the deficiency, and fore gone experience would point to the inevitable con clusion that imperial as may be the character of any scheme for improving the great highway of our commercial capital, no help is to be expected from the Imperial Exchequer." Yet, argues Mr. TIIWAITES forthwith very seriously, and, we must add, perforce,very reasonably—"To propound a com plete plan for the amelioration of both banks of our ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. Unacr the management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison. Unprecedented Combination of Attractions for the Christmas Holidays. Ealfe's Greatest Success—the NEW OPERA, and the NEW COMIC PANTOMIME, EVERY EVENING. THIS EVENING, Dec. 26, 1861, and the following Even ings, will be presented the New and Original Grand Romantic Opera, in Three Acts, entitled THE PURITAN'S DAUGHTER. The Libretto by J. V. Bridgeman. Supported by Miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Susan Pyne; Mr. Santley, Mr. 11. Corti, Mr. George Honey, Mr. Patey, Mr. A. St. Albyn, Mr. T. Distin, Mr. Wallworth, Mr. Eugene Dussek, Mr. C. Lyall, and Mr. W. Harrison. Conductor, Mr. ALFRED MELLON. After which will be produced (written expressly by J. M. Morton), a Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN GULLIVER ; or, A Trip to Brobdigna,;,r, a Peep at Lilliput, and a Flying Visit to Laputa. With entirely new Tricks, Transf rmations, Decorations, Machinery, and Dresses. New splendid SCENERY, including the GRAND TRANS FORMATION SCENE, by W. CALCOTr, in which will be rerresented new and patent effects never before attempted on the stage. Gulliver, Mr. W. H. Payne ; Mrs. Gulliver, Mr. F. Payne. Principal danseuse, Mdlle. Lamoureux, supported by the Ladies of the Corps de Ballet. The Harlequinade sustained by the eminent Pantomimists, Messrs. 11. Payne, F. Payne, 11. Lauri, E. Lauri, S. Lauri, and Miss Jenny Lauri. NOTICE.—A Morning Performance of the New Panto mime will take place on WEDNESDAY, Jan. 1, and on every .-ucceeding Wednesday till further notice, commencing at Two o'clock. Carriages to be in attendance at Four. Stalls, 7s. ; Private Boxes, from 10s. 6d. to Xi 4s. ; Dress Circle, ss. ; Upper Boxes, 4s. ; Amphitheatre Stalls, 3s. ; Pit, 2s. 6d. ; Amphitheatre, ls. Box-orrice open daily (except to-day, Monday, and Wednesday), from Ten till Five, Com mence at Seven. Places bucked without charge. •r 1 ti EA TR E. it Y AL, HAYMARKET, Lwßgee. Mr. J. B. Backstonr. J_ THIS EVENING, Dec. 2A, Sterling Coyne's Comedy, BLACK SHEEP. Messrs. Buckstone, Compton, Howe, Villiers, Mrs. C. Young, Mrs. Wilkins, &c. After which, a Comic Christmas Pantomime, LITTLE MISS MUFFET AND LITTLE BOY BLUE ; or, Harle quin and Old Daddy Longlegs. Louise Leclercq, Charles Le clercq, Herr Cole, G. Becket, and Miss Rosine. Commenoe a 7 OYAL LYCEUM THEATRE, Manager—Mr. Edmund Falconer. THIS EVENING, Eec. 26, the new and original Drama, entitled PEEP O'DAY ; or, Savourneen Deelish. Messrs. Walter Lacy, Hermann Vezin, Charles Selby, Edmund Fal coner : Mrs. D. P. Bowers, Miss Clara Weston. After which, a new and original Burlesque Extravaganza, entitled LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD ; or, Th Fairies of the Rose, the Thistle, and the Shamrcck. Principal charac ters by Mr Chas. Selby, Mr. Warlow, Miss Cicely Nott, and Miss Lydia Thompson. Acting* Manager-41r. F. B. Chatterton. I.'7!ices as usual. Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at 7. Box-office open daily from 11 till 5. LBO YA L PRINCES S'S THEATRE,- Lesgee, Mr A. Harris. THIS EVENING, Thursday, Dec. 26, THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH. After which will be produced, a Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled WHITTING TON AND HIS CAT ; or, Harlequin King Kollywobbol and the Genius of Good Humour. The grotesque opening invented and written by Henry J. Byron, Esq., author of the Princess's Pantomime of " Jack the Giant Killer." The Scenery by Mr. James Gates, Mr. H. Cuthbert, and numerous assistants. Good Humour, Miss Helen Howard ; Princess Popsiwopsf, Miss Rose Leclercq ; Alice, Miss Pauline Le clercq ; Messrs. Garden, Cathcart, Morland, Collett, Hast ings. Raymond ; Dick Whittington, Miss Maria 11 arris ; Robin Goodfellow and the Cat, Master John Haslem, ;pupil of the celebrated Gabriel Ravel; Clown, Mr. Hildyard ; Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri ; Pantaloon, Mr, Paulo; Colum bine, Miss Caroline Adams. Morning Performances will take place at Two o'clock on Monday, Dec. 30, and every fol lowing Monday till further notice. EIV THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHL u Solo Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. 309th, 310th, 311th Nights of the Engagement of Mr. and 31re, Dion Boucicault. The Two Great Dramas. THIS EVENING, and during the week the great Drama, entitled THE OCTOROON ; or, LIFE IN LOUISIANA: Messrs. Grace, Billington, Emery, Phillip Jamison, Smith, Stephenson, Romer. Lewis ; Mrs. Billington, Mrs. H. Mar ston, Miss C. Denvil, Miss Latimer, and Mrs. H. Lewis. After wh , ch, at 20 minutes past 9, the great Irish Drama of THE COLLEEN BAWN. Mr. and Mrs. Dion Boucicault, Mr. Fisher, Miss Woolgar, ttc. Box Office open from 10 till 5. NEW ROYALTY THEATRE, Dean-street, Oxford-street. Under the Direction of Mdlle. Albina di Rhona. THIS EVENING, A LESSON FOR HUSBANDS ; characters by Mr. Sinclair, Mesas. Clifford and Terry. After which, CAMELIA ; Camelia, Mdlle. Albina di Rhona. Fol lowed by a New Operatic Burlesque, entitled THE VERY LATEST EDITION OF IL TROVATORE ; or. Who Killed the -; Messrs. Graham, Robins, James, Warren, W. Worboys ; Mesds. Mason, Craven, and Hodson. To con lude with new and oricinal Farce, A NICE QUIET DAY.--Commence at half-past 7. CANTERBURY HALL CONCERTS, AND FINE ARTS GALLERY. Immense Entertainment for the Christmas Holidays. Mr. MARSHALL'S Grand Christmas Dish, "THE EN CHANTED HASH " (SECOND EDITION), written ex- Drrees,,sc l iy, f 7leTrinealpysnke's' . a n n det i 'v u e r lL l l l : i s e q- , - 3 11 c I a ii is rreder!c j k G. Forde.—Miss Ilarriet Coveney, and Miss Greene. Grand Selections from TROVATORE and LA TRAVIATA, By Miss Russell, Mr. Herbert, Signor Tivoli, and full Chorus. Musical Director, Mr. Jonghmans. Admisslon—Hall, 6d. ; Stalls mad Balcony, ls. OANTERBURY HALL.—VICTOR JULIEN, v " THE FLYING MAN " (from Paris), on the Trapeze, will make his First Appearance on MONDAY, the 30th De cember. T H E 0 X F O R D, 6, OXFORD-STREET, EVERY EVENING. Grand Selections from " LA CERCASSIENNE," "Mac beth," and " Ernani," by Miss Russell, Miss Ernst, and Machine Enderssohn; Messrs. Albert, W. Morley, Greene, and C. Greville. Full Band and Chorus.—Conductor, Mr. F. Jorighmans. Varied Vocal and;lnstrumental Entertainments, the Comic portion by Messrs. Sam Collins, M. P. Foster, E. Marshall, W. Randall. and Miss Harriet Coveney. - - Commence at 6 o'clock during the Christmas Holidays. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, Bh. sm. —Afternoon, Bh. 36m. To-MORROW.-Morning, 9h. 13m.—Aftenioon, 9h. 48m. THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, DECEMBER 26, 1861. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 38—:ighest since noon yesterday. 28—lowest this morning and during the night. 35—this day at noon. BAROMETER -30.30. WlND—Easterly ; light, with hazy but fine frosty weather. tp, zt i • ,r 3 • LIA 4. 4 c, I: 4c. At' r - -t ~:~-~ rHE csu - NI ' LONDON, THURSDAY EVE NI fIG, !DEC OMB E R 26, 1861. river, and to acknowledge our inability to devise any means of paying for it, would surely be unbecoming to the financial capacity of a body of practical men ; and probably, after passing in review the several elements of the question, they will consider that, inasmuch as this work is mainly required to facili tate the trade of the metropolis, that that trade ought to defray its cost, and that a small tonnage due on the goods entered inwards and oatwards in the port of London, excepting coal as already taxed, would be a burden but lightly felt by the commu nity, readily collected by the existing machinery, and a convenient application to metropolitan finances of that combination of direct with indirect taxation which has been the most equitable mode of replenishing the national exchequer." Whatever may be thought about this proposition at the first blush, it is at any rate one worthy of being taken at once into serious consideration. THE O'DONOG.HUE, M.P., AND TEE COM MISSION OF THE PEACE. The following correspondence has been sent to us for publication : " Lord Chancellor's Secretary's Office, Four Courts, Dublin, Dec. 9, 1861. " SIR,—I am directed by the Lord Chancellor to write to you, and state that his lordship has read the report, as given in the _Freeman's Journal news paper of the 6th inst., of the proceedings at what is called a mass meeting of Irish Nationalists, holden at the Rotunda on the evening of Thursday, the sth inst., and over which you are stated to have pre sided as chairman. The whole tenor of the speeches reported to have been made at this meeting, and the resolutions adopted, plainly indicate the deter mination of those who took part in it that if, in con sequence of recent occurrences, a war should arise between her Majesty and the Federal States of Northern America, they would, as far as might be in their power, not only withhold all assistance from their lawful Sovereign, but would manifest their sympathy and friendship for those 'who, in that calamitous event, would be arrayed in open hostility against her, The meeting appears to have concluded with the appointment of a com mittee of which you are named es chairman, whose object is declared to be to take into con sideration the advisability of carrying out an orga nisation in the present state of affairs at home and abroad, and, looking to the principles avowed by those who addressed the meeting, it is to be presumed that the organisation thus projected is designed to advance those principles and to dissemi nate the treasonable ‘riews so publicly announced. The whole of these proceedings appear to the Lord Cbancellor to be altogether at variance with the true allegiance to which every subject of the empire is bound, and his lordship has directed this com munication to be made to you, as a magistrate of the county of Kerry, and holding her Majesty's commission, in order that you may make such ob servations thereon as you shall think proper.—l have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, " The O'Donoghue, M.P." " MARK PERRIN. " Derriquln Castle, Kenmare, Dec. 14, 1861. " Sir,—l have received your letter of the 9th of December, conveying to me the view the Lord Chancellor has been pleased to take of the proceed ings at the recent meeting of Irish Nationalists, over which I had the honour of presiding. And, in compliance with your request, I be; to state, for his lordship's information, that it is my conviction that an overwhelming majority of the Irish people feel they have much more reason to be grateful to the American nation than to the British Government; and that, therefore, in the event of a war between America and England they would be very unwilling to supply men and money for the purpose, as I stated at the meeting, of de stroying American commerce, bombarding American cities, and humiliating the American flag. I can didly avow that those are my sentiments. Farther, I have to state that I have already acquainted seve ral with my intention of withdrawing from the com mittee nominated at the Rotunda meeting, be cause upon reflection I see clearly that, in the ab sence of a great number of names, the committee cannot command the confidence of the country. At the same time I think it absolutely necessary that a committee, manifestly entitled to public con fidence, should be appointed to consider how the interests of Ireland may be affected by a war be tween America and England. Perhaps I may be come a member of such a committee, the formation of which must necessarily lead to a moat useful national organisation. An apprehension of tres passing too much upon your valuable time forbids me to enter at greater length into details; for inas much as I deny the necessity or prudence of a secret system of action, I see no reason why the Lord Chancellor should not be made acquainted with our plans, and his opinion taken upon the feasibility of our proposed organisation. I believe the meeting at the Rotunda truly indicated the general feeling of the people of Ireland upon the question of war between America and England, and I am prepared to maintain at all risks, that it is the duty and the undoubted right of my countrymen, unreservedly, to discuss all questions affecting the interests of Ireland. I cannot be persuaded that his lordship contemplates visiting me with what be, no doubt, regards as punishment, for venturing to discharge this duty and :to assert this right. lam puzzled to understand why you have been directed to ad dress me ' as a magistrate,' and not as an Irishman. Are the two characters incompatible ? Must a ma gistrate forego freedom of thought and expression ? Must he allow others to think and speak for him ? Must he take an English view of every question, and at once stifle the natural predilections of the Irish heart ? Future events shall decide the answer to these queries. "I have the honour to be your obedient servant, " O'DONOGILUE. " To the Secretary of the Lord Chancellor." "Lord Chancellor's Secretary's Office, Four Courts, Dublin, Dec. 17, 1861. " Sir,—l am directed by the Lord Chancellor to inform you that, having read your letter of the 14th inst., his lordship has directed writs of supersedeas to issue, removing you from the Commission of the Peace of the counties of Cork and Kerry.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, " MARK PERRIN. "The O'Donoghue, M.P." MASON AND SLIDELL.—In case of the American Government yielding the point in dispute, we shall have to be magnanimous under a far stronger temptation. There are things to be remembered which Englishmen generally are not yet sufficiently aware of. Not only must we re member that the Confederates are fighting for slavery, but that Mr. Mason, to whom we are compelled to act as pro tectors, if not champions, is the author of the Fugitive Slave Law. From end to end of the kingdom this ought to be told and remembered, that we may be able to allow for the Federalists if they refuse to liberate him, and to sympathise with their feelings if they submit to the neces sity. Under the Fugitive Slave Law many a prosperous farmer has been ruined for his compassion in aiding the deliverance of the captive; many a citizen has laid down his life to defend the personal liberty law of his own state ; many a Quaker, who could not fight, has borne the loss of his property, and undergone imprisonment, sooner than return to bondage the fugitive who cast himself upon his compassion. Under that law, the proud city of Boston has seen chains locked round its court- house, and cannon posted in its streets, while a negro, long free and supposed safe under the protection of the city, was carried down to the harbour, amidst thousands of mourning citizens, and black flags, and balconies filled with women in black, heartwrung that the South had thus got the liberties of the republic under her heel. The author of that law is now in prison in that harbour, within sight of that court-house and the wharf whence Burns was shipped ; and we must remem ber how keen must be the pang of restoring that man to liberty on the requisition of anti• slavery England. Anti slavery England must beware of making a hero of the man she is obliged to protect; and of condemning too severely the premature rejoicings of the people of the Free States who have been betrayed into a false position by the ignorant audacity of a naval officer in whose years and professional reputation they have naturally placed their coufirlence.— Once a Week. SAWNEY AND HIS LAWYER.—In a Scotch town lately, a man from the country applied to a respectable law yer for legal advice. After detailing the circumstances of the case, 'ae was asked if be had stated the facts exactly as they occurred. " Ou, ay, sir," rejoined the applicant, " I thocht it best to tell you the plain truth you can it the lees (lies) lain yersa "p. LATEST NEWS. AMERICA. NEW YORK, DEC. 13, EVENING. (Per City of Baltimore, via Queenstown.) The European advices brought by the Hansa to New York are generally interpreted by the New York press as favourable to the maintenance of peace between England and America. The New York journals published some further diplomatic correspondence between Mr. Adams and Mr. Seward. In this correspondence Mr. Adams states that, while in conversation with Earl Russell in June last, he referred to the fact of British troops having been sent to Canada. Earl Russell replied that as Canada had been denuded of troops some time since it was only a proper measure of precau tion, and said that he did not know what the United States might do. Earl Russell also said something about a threat uttered by Mr. Se ward to Lord Lyons, that British vessels would be seized on Lake Ontario without ceremony. President Lincoln has refused to furnish Congress at present with the correspondence between the Federal Government and foreign powers relative to the Mexican intervention. Five hundred Federals will immediately occupy Tybee Island. A Government agent has been appointed to super intend the packing of cotton by the aid of negroes in the neighbourhood of Beaufort. According to advices from Kentucky, the Fede rals have destroyed the bridges between Bowling green and Memphis. Vessels from Southern ports continue to arrive at Havannah. Federal accounts state that Fort Pickens was unhurt in the late engagement, but that Warrington and part of the Pensacola Navy Yard were burnt. A despatch from Fortress Monroe announces that a large fire had broken out in Charleston, which was supposed to be the work of incendiaries. Seve ral public buildings had been destroyed. The New York Herald states that agents from the Mexican Government have arrived at New Yotk, for the purpose of fitting out privateers to prey upon French, English, and Spanish merchant vessels. It appears very probable that an engagement will soon take place in Kentucky. The Canada journals report considerable activity throughout Canada in organising the militia and volunteers. The Europa passed Cape Race on the 13th Dec.. but was not intercepted. The British gunboat Landrail and the Swedish frigate Lorkoopingham had arrived at New York. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Money easy. Exchange very firm, at 1091 to 1091; stocks flat. New York Central, 77'4; Erie, 31/- ; Illinois Central, 601. Cotton very firm. Sales during the last two days, 6,500 bales ; Mid dling Upland, 34c to 35c. Flour dull. Wheat quiet, and prices drooping. Corn in good demand for export. Provisions quiet. Coffee very firm. Sugar steady. Molasses quiet. NEW YORK, DEC. 14, EVENING. Per North American, by telegraph to Portland and via Londonderry.) An engagement has taken place in Western Vir ginia, in which the Federals are reported to have been successful. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Stocks firmer. Cotton tending upwards : mid dling Upland, 35c. PARIS, DEC. 25. The Moniteur of this morning, in announcing that the Journal des Debats has received a first warning for an article published on the 23d inst., and signed by M. Saint Marc Girardin, says:— " This article is written in a party spirit, and en deavours to shake the faith of the people in their natural institutions. The doctrines which it pro fesses are in flagrant contradiction to the principles on which the French people agreed to found an Imperial throne and the future of a dynasty." TURIN, DEC. 25. The Court has gone into mourning for his late Royal Highness the Prince Consort. L' Italia states that the negotiations for the entry of Signor de Martino into the Ministry have fallen through. LISBON, DEC. 22, EVENING. The King has taken the oath to the Constitution in a special session of the Cortes. On this occasion his Majesty spoke feelingly of his brother's death. Lisbon is illuminated, and great enthusiasm pre vails among the inhibitants. LISBON, DEC. 25. Prince Joao has received the last sacraments. ENGLAND AND AMERICA. We read in the Temps : " A letter from Washington, received by the last steamer, and written by a person who is in a posi tion to be well-informed upon the intentions of the American Government, has been communicated to us. This letter affirms that the American Govern ment was disposed to give up Messrs. Mason and Slidell upon the demand of England, on the condi tion that the English Government,basing its demand upon the right of neutrals, violated by the act of Commander Wilkes, will sanction the doctrine always professed by the United States, and the formal recognition of which by England has been vainly sought on several occasions by the United States." LISBON, DEC. 23. The royal levee, which was to have taken place to-day, has been postponed on account of the Prince Consort's funeral. The malady from which Prince Joao is suffering is gastric fever. (PER TAGUS, via SOUTHAMPTON.) LISBON, DEC. 17. In consequence of a telegram received from Count Lavradio, announcing the death of the Prince Con sort, the proclamation of King Louis I. has been postponed. the British merchants at Lisbon have held a meeting to protest against the extra taxation levied under the new law. The Duke of Saldanha's health is improving, and it is expected that he will soon appear in public. A marriage has been arranged between the daughter-in-law of the Duke of Saldanha and the Marquis de Pombal. A funeral service for the repose of the soul of the late King has been celebrated at the Church of St. Vincent. T►he Royal family and many of the nobility were present. The Trent question is still discussed by the Por tuguese newspapers. The Journal do Cornmercio coincides with the opinions of the English juriscongults. The weather is stormy, and much damage bas been done to the shipping along the coast of Por tugal. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Exchange on London, 53:; (ea Paris, 582. Renter Three per Cents., 481; Coupons, 483 ; Deferred, 42.1 Prices of wines are likely to fall in consequence of this year's vintage. THE BOMBAY MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 26. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Ellora, with the above mails, has arrived here. She brings 24 passengers, 168 chests of dates, 78 boxes of oranges, and 986 bales of silk, 9 cases of shawls, and 115 packages of merchandise. In the Mediterranean the Ellora experienced strong westerly winds, with heavy rains. The weather,:in crossing the Bay of Biscay, was mode rate and fine, with a heavy north-east swell. Off Cape St. Vincent the Ellora spoke the steamer Ada steering south-east, and on the 23d, off Vigo, the Company's steamer Indus. The Ellora brings home the master, mate, and seven of the crew of the Caroline, of Newcastle, which vessel sprung a leak and sunk on the 14th inst., in lat. 46 50 N., and long. 9 deg. 3 min. W. The men were taken off her on the 14th inst. by the Austrian brig Finmano, and landed at Gib raltar. Three of the crew were drowned. A telegram had baen received at Gibraltar or dering off her Majesty's ship Algiers. It is be lieved that she will proceed westward to guard the Straits against the entrance of any American pri ♦ateers. Her Majesty's frigates Liffey and Melpomene were to sail from Gibraltar, for North America, on the 21st. The Mooltan arrived at Gibraltar on the 18th inst. Exchanges and freights at Gibrrltar remain unaltered. AUSTRIA. A letter from Vienna, dated Dec. 20, says : " The statement made by the Minister of Finance has caused quite a consternation both in the Chamber and on Change. From his sad revelations it ap pears that the disastrous campaign of 1859 has cost us one of our richest provinces, at the same time occasioning a deficit of 200 millions of florins; that the following year 1860 and the present year 1861 have caused a deficit, the first of 65 millions, the other of 109 millions and a half, mak ing a total of 214 millions, or more than two-thirds of the receipts, estimated at 296 millions and a half for 1862. The saddest part of the business is, that the hand which points out the sore does not point oat a remedy. " The Court has gone into mourning for his late Royal Highness Prince Albert. The Austrian Am bassador at London, Count Apponyi, has been in structed by telegraph to express the sympathy of the Austrian Court to her Majesty Queen Victoria. On Tuesday last, the 17th inst., a courier arrived here from St. Petersburg, bearer of the reply of Prince Gortschakoff to the report of M. de Balabine on the explanations of Count de Rechberg, respect ing the affair of the Suttorina. In this reply Prince Gortschakoff takes the point of view that Austria has acted contrary to the stipulations of the Treaty of Paris, not having first consulted the other Powers who signed that Treaty. While taking the matter in this instance as a fait accompli, the Cabinet of St. Petersburg intimates its intention of maintaining its view for the future. M. de Balabine communicated Prince Gortschakoff's reply to M. de Rechberg the same day that he received it. The representatives of France and Prussia took the same view as the Russian envoy." ITALY. The intelligence given in the Lombardia of Milan, of certain persons having set out for Lon don to invite Mazziui to give himself up to the Italian Government, and stand his trial, is looked on by the Constitutionnel as of a certain importance as tending to prove that the Mazzinian party is again in movement, and that if the news given by the Milan journal be correct, they must have some hope of success, and that, if false, public opinion is once again occupied with Mazzini and his views, and perhaps not without sufficient reason. The article proeceds in these terms : " When the Italian national movement developed itself in its energy, and, it may be said, in its grandeur, the Mazziuian party were driven far back, and the most common-place prudence dic tated to it the propriety of making itself forgotten. It doubtless did not abdicate, but it concealed its flag. That was so much gained for the cause of order and tranquillity in the Italian Peninsula. If that flag should now reappear, the conclusion to be drawn from it is, that the admirable unity of opinion which prevailed round the throne of King Victor Emmanuel runs some danger, and that faults have been committed or are on the point of being so, for Mazzini cannot perform a part and reassume a certain prestige except through the faults of his adversaries. We have always hoped, and we do so still, that Italy, which has manifested during more than two years past such a spirit of political wisdom and good conduct, will persevere in those fruitful paths, and that she will not want for statesmen to assist her in this second part of her work. Then, at the end of a certain time, there will be no necessity to ask for Niazzini's pardon, as the gates of the Italian Peninsula will open of themselves before him. He will be no longer a danger, but only a remembrance, and he may walk at any hour of the day or night on all the Corsi of Italy, unless he prefers, as is very probable, to re main abroad like a fallen royalty—the royalty of Utopian schemes and disorder." POLAND. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) WARSAW, DEC. 13. The contest between the Government and the clergy is maintained with the greatest firmness on both sides, each using its own particular weapons. The clergy throw odium and disgrace on the Go vernment by keeping the churches closed, and the Government answers by arresting the most zealous and patriotic among the clergy. Administrator Bialobrzeski's trial is over, and sentence of death was passed upon him, which was afterwards com• muted by the Czar to 10 years' transportation to Asia. This is equivalent, in the case of so old and bed-ridden a man as Bialobrzeski, to transportation for life. It is still a mystery for what crime he received this terrible punishment, no mention having been made of it in the official paper, which, however, has published a sort of apology for the conduct of the Government in this matter. This apology has been reprinted by order in all the otber Warsaw papers, and is a literal translation of an article which appeared in the Prussian Allgemeine Zeitung, and which, by its wilful distortion of facts, is evidently the production of some German scribe in the pay of Russia. It begins by stating, what is perfectly true, that from the beginning of the present revolutionary movement the clergy have done all they could to second the efforts of the patriots. It then goes on to make the old charge, that the inviolability of the churches has been used to shelter illegal demonstrations, although it would find it difficult to prove what these illegal demon strations were. Archdeacon Bialobrzeski, it adds, resolved the very next day after the state of siege was published on opposing the arrangements of the authorities, and thereby taking advantage of the opportunity of making himself popular with the country by openly taking its political passions ander his protection. This last is an important admission on the part of the Germn paper, and the Government, which by publishing it in its own organ has in some sort made it its own. Hitherto we have been assured, in the face of a thousand proofs to the contrary, that the movement in Poland was only a partial one, and was confined to a few hot-headed revolutionists; now we have it on the authority of the Government paper that it embraces the whole country. We are next told that the events of the Kosciuszko day were enti7ely due to the perseverance of the archdeacon; and we learr for the first time that it had been the intention of the clergy to come in procession to the beleaguered churches and free their inmates under the shelter of their sacred office—a piece of news which was certainly not known to any one else in Warsaw, and which, even if it were true, did not justify the Government in taking the measures it did. The Allgemeine Zeitung is, of course, of another opinion, and differs from all the other accounts of the con duct of the Government on the occasion ; no men tion is made of the disgraceful scenes which took place in the churches, and the whole story is garbled in the most unblushing manner. Attention is then drawn to the Administrator's letter to the Govern ment, which is characterised as a clear proof of the hostile disposition of the clergy towards the autho rities. Such a letter, the writer thinks, ought to have met with instant punishment ; and he ex presses his surprise that three weeks should have elapsed before the Administrator was arrested—an instance of leniency on the part of the Government, which should indeed excite surprise, if it were not known—doubtless by none so well as the writer himself—that during these three weeks the Govern ment did all it could to reconcile the clergy, and that the arrest of the Administrator at the end of that period was only an act of petty vengeance on the priesthood in general, of whom he is the head, for foiling their plans. This city continues to be the scene of numberless arrests and outrages of every description. Fifteen students, five of them Jews, have been sent to serve as common soldiers in the Orenburg Corps. This mingling of the Jews with Christians in Poland for a common cause is a significant fact, showing how all old enmities are forgotten in the present move ment, and how all classes unite in their efforts for the salvation of their country. The Jews form a large portion of the population, and their co-opera tion, which is most zealous, has been of the greatest importance to the national cause. These students were preceded by a band of wretched mechanics bound for the same destination. The journey to Orenburg is a most arduous one. At Brzesce- Litewski, the captives are loaded with chains, and driven along all the rest of the way by the brutal soldiery, who beat and abuse them at every step, leaving them very little time for rest by day or night. The conduct of the soldiery in the streets of Warsaw makes one's blood boil. Take a few instances, which are but fair specimens of what happens here every day : A woman went out of her house at night accom panied by her servant, the latter carrying a lantern in obedience to the order of the police. They had not gone many steps, when they came upon a patrol, who immediately seized the woman for hav ing no lantern, the one carried by her servant not being sufficient, it appears, to illuminate both. The poor woman cried and protested, saying that she had left a sick child at home; but it was all of no avail, the stony hearts of the barbarians refused to be moved, and she was carried off to prison, where she remained three days. At length, when she was set free, she ran home to look after her child, and found it dead for the want of the care and nutri ment of its mother. But cruelty and violence are not the only means of repression used here, every species of indignity is heaped upon these unfortu nate Poles by their oppressors. A civilian meeting an officer, an old friend of his in the street, shook hands with him heartily; upon this Gen. Brumer, who happened to be passing, accosted the officer in these terms : " You disgrace your uniform, sir, by shaking hands with a civilian ; I place you under arrest. And you, you rascal, in a paletot," turning to the civilian ; " how dare you shake hands with an officer and insult the uniform of his Imperial Majesty ? I order you off to prison." Both were sent off to the guard-house accordingly. A young man of nineteen, named Bartozinski was walking in the street, when suddenly a soldier struck him in the back with his fist, being, no doubt, in one of his sportive moods. Bartozinski turned round quickly, and said, what any other man would have said, under the circumstances ; " What are you striking me for, you rascal ?" For this he has been sent to serve as a common soldier to Orenburg, as we learn from the papers. General Luders appears to have made up his mind to remain in the Viceroyalty. As for Wielopolski, the rumours of his disgrace with his Imperial Master appear to have been premature. The Journal de St. Petersbourg of the 10th instant publishes a rescript signed by the Czar, in which he appoints him a Knight of the Order of the White Eagle, " in regard to the self-denial which he showed under the difficult circumstances in which he was called upon to take part in the pacification of the kingdom of Poland, and as a reward for his zeal and useful labours for the common weal." This certainly does not look like a disgrace; and people here still hope that the marquis will come back to Warsaw invested with full powers as the oziginator of a better system of government. Although Wielpolski is anything but popular, and his go vernment would certainly not suit the views of the patriots, it will at least be possible to live in the country when he is at the head of affairs, which is more than can be said under the present rule. The situation is becoming so intolerable, in fact, that any change can only produce an improvement. And at least with so moderate and able a man as Wielsposlki it will be possible to give full expres sion to the wants and requirements of the country, which the horde of savages who now fill all the posts of the Government, from the highest to the lowest, will neither understand nor permit. Another instance of the unceasing efforts of the Government to excite the peasants against their landlords, and bring them over to the side of Rus sia, has recently come to light. At Sieradz the Go vernment employes spread a report that the peasants will receive the lands of their masters from the Government on payment of a small sum. The peasants, believing this, collected their hard got earnings and gave them to the employes, think ing thereby to acquire a right to acquire a right to their masters' possessions. The consequences of this imposition might have been serious, had not the peasants been speedily undeceived; but it is more than doubtful whether they will get their money back. Meanwhile the greatest efforts are made to secure their good-will towards the Govern ment. They are exempted from the operation of many obnoxious laws which press bard on their masters, and the numberless Government agents in the country are constantly speaking to them of the benevolent intentions of the Czar. Such, however, is the universal hatred of Russia, that all the stra tagems have as yet been unsuccessful. THE CONDEMNED CRIMINALS IN WARWICK GAOL. —Monday next has been fixed for t he execution of Thomp son for the murder of his paramour at Birmingham, and Beamish for the murder of his wife at Coventry. The former prisoner maintains the same stolid indifference as to his fate that he exhibited on his trial. On the other hand, Beamish, it appears, had all along expected an acquittal, on the ground of the difficulty of bringing the crime home to him through the medical evidence. QUEER PETITIONS TO ROYALTY.—TIIO two new volumes of State Papers misting to the reign of Charles 11., recently published, contain records of strange requests pre ferred to his Majesty ; amongst others the following, .-- "Dame Martha Jackson, widow. For the place of Gentle woman of the Horse and Lady of the Crupper to the Queen ; also to be Countess of Pall-Mall, Viscountess of Piccadilly, and Baroness of Mews. Has suffered much for the ser vice of horse and foot soldiers, and was once shot in the thigh." The services of Peter Carey are, perhaps, on the whole, the most singular in the book. His mother, Eliza beth Carey, widow, prays—" That the pension granted her for service to the late King may be transferred, she being old and decrepid, to her son Peter, who followed his Majesty to Oxford, and was there bitten by his dog Cupid." PRESENCE OF MIND JUST BEF,)RE BEING MUR DERED —A party of Whiteboys entered a house in which were a man, his wife, and their daughter, a little girl. The three were all together in one room. The ruffians rushed into the room, dragged the man out of the house, and there proceeded to murder him. In the room where the won: an and the girl remained, there was a closet with a hole in its door, through which a per son placed inside could gee into the room. The woman concealed the little girl mu the closet, and said to her, " Now, child, they are murdering your father down stairs, and when they have murdered him they will come up here and murder me. Take care that, while they are doing it, you look well at them, and mind you swear to them when you see them in the court. I will throw turf on the fire the last thing, to give you light, and struggle hard that you may have time to take a good view." The little girl locked in through the hole in the closet door while her mother was being murdered ; she marked the , murderers well. She swore to them when she saw them in the court of justice, and they were convicted on her evi ,dence.—lrish. history and Character, by Goldwin k2nalt.