The Sun. — London, England, 1856-12-17 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—' M. JULLIEN'S CONCERTS. Last Night but Three.—M. JULLIEN'S BENEFIT.—Every lady visiting the Dress Circle or Private Boxes will be presented with one of M. Jullien's most recent compositions.—Ninth appearance of Miss A. Goddard, the celebrated Pianist. — Twelfth appearance of Miss Dolby. Programme for THIS EVENING (Wednesday, Dec. 17): — Part I.—Overture, William Tell—Rossini; Quadrille, from J u llien's Opera of Pietro it Grande—Jullien; Symphony, Presto Scherzando, from the Symphony in A (received with great applause on the Beethoven Night)—Beethoven • Solo, Cornet, the River and the Star. written expressly for and performed by Herr Koenig Angelina ; Polka, The Minnie Polka—Jullien ; Concert-stuck, Pianoforte, Miss Arabella Goddard—Weber ; Valse, Excelsior—Jullien ; Cornet Qbli gato, Herr Kcent (first time) ; Symphony, Adagio Canta bile, from " The Scotch Symphony "—Me-ndelssohn ; Rondo, Nis; Louisa Vinning ; the French Quadrille, with varia tions for flute, flageolet, oboe, clarinet, ophicleide, and cornet, performed by MM. De Folley, DeYong, Collinet, Pratten, Lavigne, Hughes, and Kcenig; Finale : Partant pour la Syrie, Vive l'Empereur Jullien. Part 2.- Opera, Grand Operatic Selection from Verdi's opera of " La Traviata," with solos by Herr Kcenig, MM. Lavigne, De Folly, Sonnenberg, Sonnenberg, Duhem, Le Hon, and Hughes ; Song, Miss Dolby ; Polka, My Mary Ann —Jullien ; Serenade, Pianoforte, from Donizetti's opera, Don Pasquale —Thalberg ; Miserers, from Verdi's Il Trovatore, solos by MM. Kcenig. Lavigne, and Hughes ; Song, Miss Dolby ; Quadrille, The English—Jullien ; Galop, Eglinton Kcenig. Conductor—M. Jullien. To commence at 8 o'clock. Prices of admission :—Promenade, ls. ; Dress circle, 2s. 6d. ; private boxes, 10s. 6d., £1 Is., and upwards. Private boxes to be secured of Mr. Nugent, at the box-office of the theatre ; at all the principal libraries and musicsellers'; and at Jullien and Ce.'s, 214, Regent-street. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. THIS EVENING, will ho performed (by desire) THE HONEYMOON. Duke Aranza,, Hr. Mur doch. After which, the successful new farce, A FAMILY FAILING, in which Mr. Buckstone, Mr. Howe, Mr. Chip pendale, and Miss Blanche Fane will appear. With Peres, Nena and her unrivalled Company of Spanish Dancers, in THE ALHAMBRA, being the last week of their final engagement. Followed by A LOAN OF A LOVER. Gertrude (for this night only), Miss S. Elsworthy. To conclude with THE GALICIAN FETE. THEATRE ROYAL, A-DELPHI. Genuine S u ccess. —Unprecedented Attrac tion.—Seeond Week of Mr. Benjamin Webster, and re vival of the Great Adelphi drama of Janet Pride.—The grand New Fairy Ballet Extravaganza, THE ELVES, in which Madame Celeste will appear as the Statue Bride every night. THIS EVENING will be performed the celebrated d2ama of JANET PRIDE. Messrs. B. Webster, Wright, Paul Bedford, C. Selby, Parselle, Garden, Bland; Mesdames Celeste and M. Keeley. r , After which, with new scenery and appointments, the new fairy ballet extravaganza, ()ailed THE ELVES, or the Statue Bride, founded on the grand ballet spectacle, now perform ing with unexampled success at the Theatra Imperiale de I'Opera at Paris, under the title of Les Elfes. Principal cha racters by Madame Celeste, Misses Wyndham, Mary Keeley, Kate Kelly, Chatterly, Arden, Messrs. Wright, Paul Bedford, C Selby, Le Barr, (Ix. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING and during the week will be presented Shakspeare's play of A MIDSU3INIER NIGHT'S DREAM. _ After — which will be produced a new petite comedy, in two acts, called OUR WIFE ; or, The Rose of Amiens. Princi pal characters by Messrs. Ryder, Harley, Fisher ; Misses Murrr7 and C. Leclercq. Mendelssohn's celebrated overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream will commence at 5 minutes before 7. THEATRE ROYAL, SA.DLER'S-WELLS. Under the Management of Mr. Phelps. THIS EVENING, MACBETH. Macbeth, Mr. Phelps ; Macduff, Mr. H. Marston ; Banquo, Mr. A. Rayner ; Lady Macbeth, Miss Atkinson. To conclude with POOR PILLICODDY. OYAL OLYMPIC TREAT - RE. Lir!9see, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING, WIVES AS THEY WERE AND MAIDS AS THEY ARE. Messrs. Addison, G. Vining ; Mrs. Stirling, Misses Swanborongh and Herbert. And the new farce, JONES THE AVENGER. Messrs. P. Robson, J. Rogers, and Miss Marston. Commence at half-past Seven. ROYAL SURREY THEATRE. 1 Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd an I Creswiek. THIS EVENING, ROMEO NNI) JTILIET. Romeo, Mr. Creswick ; IViercutio, Mr. Shepherd. To conclude with THE OUTCAST BROTHER. • akSTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. THIS EVENING, Shakspeare's Tragedy of MACBETH, with Equestrian Illustrations by Mr. W. Cooke's highly. trained Horses, &e. Macbeth, Mr. James Holloway. After which, the Equestrian ACTS in the ARENA, in. troducing Miss Kate Cooke and Miss Emily Cooke. To conclude with AN AMUSING FINALE. Doors open at half-past six ; commence at seven o'clock. Pox-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. CANTERBURY HALL. Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING. —The follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of Selections from all the popular Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Duets, dcc., viz. —Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, Miss Brtmell, awl Miss Summers ; Mr. J. Caulfield, Herr F. Joughmans, R. Grover, T. Raino, T. Farrant, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, and P. eorrie -, Masters Austin, Ben nett, and Corti ; Mr. Sam Cowell and B. Mackney. Piano forte, J. Parraway, R. A. ; harmonium, J. Caulfield, juu. ; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre' cisely. Suppers, dcc., until twelve o'clock. In addition to the usual Vocal Entertainment, the celebrated SPANISH MINSTRELS will appear in costume at Nine and Eleven o'clock Every Evening, , , and sing some of their favourite selec tions. ;ITIGH WATER. AT LONDON BRIDGP. MIS DAT—Morn. 31. min. aft. s—Evening 54 min. el. 5 TO-MORROW—Morn. 16 min. aft. 6—Evening 39 mm. aft. 6 THE WEITHER—Stu OFFICE, DECEMBER 17. TrP.Jamomirrint, IN THE SHADE. 41—highest sinse noon yesterday. 34 -lowest this morning end dnrinq the night. 41. --this day It noon. BAROMETER, 30 44—falling. WIND, W.S.W.-Light, with dull, frosty, hazy weather. r s„,„, (7 . : ( ; , 1 / 4 7 4r: )YT)011, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, lne Political Economy is really after all one of the emptiest phrases imaginable as applied to the con duct of our vaunted scheme of administration. Political extravagance, fiscal profligacy, financial squandering, would literally be more appropriate phrases—phrases more directly applicable to the principles in vogue almost from time immemorial in the general system adopted amongst ns for the working of the complicated machinery of our mixed form of Government. If there be in one or two discrepant particulars a miserable and most creditable "show" of cheese-paring parsimony and flint-s kinning retrenchment—there are discernib!e elsewhere s uperabundant proof, proof positive and incontrovertibl e , of the most shameless waste and of the most • prodigal expenditure. We don't allude here to the grievances complained of a great deal more than nine hundred and ninety times prey - , tons y those of mil lions of the public moneys lavi , hed during generation after gener a ti on upon the bastards born from the concubines, of some of the most licentious of our Sovereign,. W© rt don't allude to' the retention among the baubl e p„.lnps of the Court of expensive offices of no earthly use what ever nowadays. We don't allud e to the pen sioning-off with m onstrously ex aggerated sag a ries of diplomatic minnows and Pa rliamentary tritons, never of much profit to any one, andat length, in the long evening of their car eers, a decided incumbrance to the Commonwealth. Be. ference is made, when we speak as we do now, to none of those old, notorious, threadbare griev ances--grievanees as notorious to the nation at large as the filth of the Thames is to London ; but, alas, not so easily to be swept away by.,the purifying influences of some MM ., oppor tune commission. We allude now to that mon strous and systematic violation of all the first principles of Political Economy to which our contemporary the Timei has, to its great honour, pointed a conspicuous dexter-finger of indictment. It i 3 insisted by the Times, with a roasonab!e hem but few Jabbers -even,_ however inveterate, will have - temerity • to contradict, that there - something at once critui nal and preposterous in the wholesale man- nor in which the materiel of the late war is bein , r sold at little more than nominal pric , ,:s to the dealers hanging about our arsenals and dockya rd , 4. As assuredly it is. P,,r it must he remeatbere I that this very materiel, now selling at nomilia! prices, has but very recently been pnrchas d from contractors, at a period of great ' • ens; r+.2-fley, at a cost involving on the part of the courory the' - snot enormous disbursements. Line-of bat tie away after ships, we all know, are allow e d to rot the lapse of years without ever having been of the ' slightest use in open water. Contingents of Ger mans and Italians, raised, recruited, clothed, armed, drilled, fed, housed, instructed at an odious, because above all things a needless, sacri fice of money, are disbanded without ever raising a hand against any one but our °A countrymen. Palatial " Follies" are built up and pulled down at the whina of a Majesty or a Royal Highness, as the case may be—without any other result than •tlie bills ultimately " entered" by builder, deco rator, and architect. These extravagances are familiar, more or less, to the whole mass of the population and have been descanted upon accordingly usque ad nauseam by journalists, id.P.'s, and pamphleteers. But the "Sales of S `ores" advertised of late by the Government ? Provisions—rice, meat, coffee, biscuits, cocoa, wine, preserved vegetables : Clothing—fur caps, far coats, buffalo robes, boots, waterproof raiment: implements—nails, spades, shovels, pickaxes : Means of Conveyance—mules, horses, carts, waggons, harness, saddlery—in short, all the motley, manifold, multiform, materiel of War ! How about all these things How ? Why, that having bought them up when too late at an immense cost, we are now selling them off again dirt cheap—for next to nothing, as the phrase is—to any one who cares to profit by the folly of the Government. So that our Adminis trators actually reverse, in regard to the Adminis tration and its doings, the golden axiom of the Free - Trade Apostle Buying in the Cheapest and selling in the Dearest Markets. Instead of this positively, as it were, buying in the Dearest for the express purpose of selling in the Cheapest ! And that sorrowfully be it said, in the words of the doleful comic song— " That's the way the money goes !" England squandering upon war expenses alone, in the year enling with the terrible ides of March, 1856—the year of the Deplorable Peace—hard cash to the tune of just 52,000,000/ ! To what end ? To the end that Russia should be com pelled to yield no indemnity. To the end that Serpents' Island should be flagrantly seized in the teeth, no, be it observed, rather in the tooth less gums of the Paris Conferences ! To the end that Sebastopol should be again built up from its ruins ! Our floating batteries useless. Our fleet of gunboats—(never used)—forgotten. The Italian Legion and the German Jagers dis banded. And last, but not least, all our costly stores scattered to the winds of heaven with an open hand of shameless and profligate extrava gance ! Amidst the din of sects and the wordy and too often bitter contentions of ecclesiastical champions it is pleasant to meet every now and then with a true Christian hero—a man who cares not for renown but for doing good, and who seeks not the honours of a cheap and party martyrdom, but quietly risks the real perils which martyrs before him have encountered, that he may attain the objects which they sought. We have just lost one such man, a sincere believer in that faith which the vast majority of the inhabitants of this island regard as a superstition, and which, as taught by thousands of its priests, doubtless is so. A more outrageous superstructure to build on the sim plicity of the Four Gospels than Popery can hardly be imagined, yet a PASCAL, a FINELON, and a Father MATHEW have been men of the purest lives, the simplest yet noblest aims, and the embodiment, in very different lives, of a Chris tianity to which the most bigotted could not refuse their homage. True, their names are not worthy of a place in the Romish calendar, but they will never fail of a place in the real Catholic Church. However we may distrust the principle of resting moral reformations on a formal pledge, and however we may regret the too general return of Irishmen to their former habits, yet who now questions the elevated and philanthropic motives of Father THEOBALD MATHEW ? His gentle persua sions became at last a force which completely carried away the rude passions of his wild coun trymen. Even a temporary triumph, a triumph real enough, however, to beggar the distillers, his brother amongst them, was a truly wonderful victory over the most irresistible of all tempta tions ; and the rabid intolerance of Orangeism itself was compelled at last to confess that it was gained by weapons worthy of a Christian minister. If the myriads who thronged around him trusted to something magical in his prayer and blessing, it was their fault, not his. Peace to his gentle, philanthropic memory ! It is the property and the honour of Christendom and humanity. Yesterday it was our duty to record the willing honour done to another noble man, the soul of whose interesting labours was zeal for the diffu sion of his faith. Of a Christian persuasion at the very antipodes of that to which Father MATnEw belonged, the same modesty, the same indefatigable perseverance, the same superiority to the trammels of sect, have marked his course. Dr. LIVINGSTON is a Christian Missionary, be longing, if we are rightly informed, to the Inde pendents, but belonging also to us all ; belonging to his race ; and desirous, not to carry through out the interior of Africa the peculiarities of his Church, but the glorious peculiarities of our com mon faith, as distinguished from Fetischism and every form of Heathenism. Philanthropic aims, like those of Father MATHEW and Dr. LIVINO STON, seem inevitably, perhaps unconsciously, to expand the understanding and to teach the heart genuine catholicity. The meeting of last night must have been composed of gentlemen distin guished by their creeds, as well as for their science and social standing ; yet, like Lord ELLESMERE on a previous occasion, they found pleasure in re cognising the motives which impelled Dr. LIVING STON to explore where no traveller before had trod, the mysterious interior of intertropical Africa, and did honour to his higher vocation, while proud to number him among the recipients of the Royal Geographical Society's gold medal. So far as we have yet heard, Dr. LIVINGSTON, in his travels over eleven thousand miles of the interior of Africa, used no other wea pons with his fellow-men than those by Which Father MATHEW tamed the wild Irish. They were found equally efficient against the wild tribes of Africa. He relied, he tells us, on his rifle for food, but on his mission of peace for his defence. Singularly enough he found a tribe of natural Quakers ; they_ always submitted to the tribes whi c h master the adjacent country ! He lescribes, W ith much int eres t, th e con diti on o f the negro t r ib es in the %cry centre of the conti nent : it seems their deference to their women surpasses the Chivalry o f E urope ; the negroes all occasions, and obey while othearndlesfsorgiallilraan4eturshaocees had good experience co nsult their women o n them too- They swear also ~b y b S y wea th r ei , r , m by oth th er e , i ': o far f th th e e r ;kindness and attention of " the fair sex." How difforent his views and reflections to those of PIERCE'S slavery-men, While Pass i ng among them. Noting with humane pleasure their better qualities, and with high pleasure indeed their very general knowledge of England, se " the tribe that iikes the black mail." He foun d do mestic slavery known in the interior, but the br ut alisi*g traffic not existing ; and was obliged to confess that the nearer the negro tribes were to Europeans, the more savage and corrupt they were. He relies on Christianity and commerce to render permanent the result of our slave-cruisers' efforts. There is scope for commerce. Fibrous sub stances of "excessive strength," wax, honey, quinine, senna, were among the natural products of the country. Indigo grew wild in great abun dance, and was, in fact, a weed. The sugar cane grew abundantly, though the natives were igno rant of the use of sugar. Metallic ores and coal were abundant ; and even gold had been obtained by washing from time immemorial. " The country was so fertile that in the gardens cultivated by the natives, a constant process of sowing and reaping went on all the year round. It likewise grew im mense quantities of grain." Such is the land to which the Doctor invites the attention of our commercial men. A country which, to the north of the 20th degree of south latitude, is not arid and parched, as generally conceived, but intersected and well watered by deep rivers ; abounding in game, of species yet unknown to the uaturalist, and so unused to the gun that they stand within bow shot to be shot. Dr. LITINGSTON has done his part for commerce ; it is for Manchester and Liverpool to show their enterprise by following his footsteps. Mr. GORDON CnMMIMG and Dr. LITINGSTON had been old friends in Africa ; and they met again on Monday night. The Portuguese Minister was also present, and expressed himself much gratified to be entrusted with the task of conveying the thanks of the Society to the Portuguese Governors on the African coast, who had showed much kindness, and rendered useful assistance to the traveller. A traveller indeed—he had for sixteen years used his native tongue so little that it cost him some effort to express himself with fluency. May he long be spared to continue his valuable labours in the cause of civilisation, science, and religion. The " bright particular star," Plan B*, was yesterday adopted by the Metropolitan Board. Plan B, which is certainly no constellation at all, might have been adopted. So let us be grateful ! To be sure, the star the Board swear by is a flickering rushlight, and we can't see our way by it. What of that ? It is somewhat to have proof that the roving affections of the Board are fixed on something not wholly identical with itself at last. On the whole, it was perhaps the best decision it could come to. Its poor wits have wandered so much of late that had Major LYON'S amend ment been carried, there was a zeasonable pros pect of a commission de lunatic° inquirendo being appointed by the House of Commons, and then the Board, as Deputy HARRISON seems to appre hend, must be shut up. This, however, is not so dire a catastrophe as to have induoed us to say what we have said respecting the decision arrived at. We must be interpreted after a different fashion. The plan, though an improvement on the original Plan B, appears to us a radically bad one. Had another engineer been called in by the Board we should have had a further waste of time, and in all human likelihood no better plan. Plan I , with the star of the Order of " Go a-little-further but not-far-enough " on its breast, is now in the hands of Govern ment for consideration. On the decision it arrives at depends the solution of the great drainage question, a solution in which the pecu niary interests at least of the metropolitan tax payer and the sanitary welfare of the population down the river are seriously involved. Govern ment has not merely to consider whether or no a half-measure should be adopted at the mortal cost of the people of Erith, and elsewhere lower down the Thames ; but also whether this parti cular half•measure is, or is not, an abortion, a plan so miserably concocted as, if adopted, to be some millions worse than no plan at all. We do not exaggerate the matter in the least. The unbiassed reader has but patiently to peruse our report of yesterday's proceedings, including the protest handed in by Mr. BormroN, to satisfy himself on this head. Apart from ev er y other consideration, and there are others nu merous and most important, we put it to him,—ls this a plan which ought to satisfy any rational human being? Admit, for the sake of argument merely, it is right to discharge the sewage at Erith, still, we ask, are there reason able grounds held out for faith in its being adapted to carry away the sewage of the metropolis to the point contemplated ? Most conscientiously do we put the question, for ground of faith we can dis cover none. Turn which way we will we can discover no way of escape from a frightful humi liation and waste of expenditure on the part of the metropolitan population save in the wisdom and generosity (we do not like the word, but use it we must) of Government. We would not wager a copper farthing that the levels of the adopted plan are so taken as to insure the sewage run ning the right way. We would wager as little that the pettiest storm will not blow up the tun nels, and inundate the neighbouring localities. We have no faith of any sort in the reservoirs. Our reason for giving a qualified approval of the adoption of the plan agreed on, must now be obvious. The Drainage Question is virtually placed in the hands of Government. It is for Government to decide whether or not a half-way measure shall be carried out, and if its decision be in the affirmative, whether the plan recom mended by the Board is, or is not, that measure. May it be led to a righteous decision in the first particular. It were an insult to doubt what its decision with respect to the second is likely to be—when, in addition to all we have stated, must be appended the admission of the Engineer, that the plan is not suited for carrying the sewage beyond Erith should witch a measure be found necessary. Out of his own mouth is his plant condemned ! What next? I I Recent intelligence from the United States goes far to confirm the correctness o f th e v i ew advanced in these columns as to the probable policy of the coming President. And this in two ways : viz.., the more authoritative character of the rumours current respecting it, and the dis closures mada as to the disturbed condition and alarm of somo of the Slave States. One of our New York co ntemporaries publishes a letter from Washington, in which the assertion that Mr. BUCHANAN'S policy will be eminently conservative, and, as far as slavery in Kansas is concerned, based entirely upon the will of the people of that territory, is, reiterated. This, we admit, may be but guess work, Its importance consists in the view of the writer being corroborated, according to our con te repo rary, by all those the Editor has seen who have vieited Wheatland or come in contact with friends of the President elect who have been there, and also by a letter he has had shown him from a stw cesman of high standing in the Demo cratic par ty, to the effect that ultra measures and ultra me a, both at the North and South, will be ignored by the incoming Government. The moveme las and intrigues of the rival factions of the BU4 f/LANAN party, as graphically described by the first -mentioned writer, have also an appreci able Wei ght in the way of confirmation. That I any doubt should exist on the matter could not I but in itself be regarded as a promising fact. Probably the most important feature of the intelligence is the apprehension of insurrections among the slaves entertained in parts of Texas, and in a minor degree in Arkansas, Alabama, and other Southern Slave States. In Union County, Arkansas, it would appear, of two luckless indi viduals, one has been captured, tried, and shot, and the other hung, on a charge of exciting a portion of the slave population to rise in rebellion against their task masters. Three hundred of the slaves were to be concentrated on a given point—the town of ll Dorado was to be attacked, its inhabitants murdered, money and provisions obtained by force, and a march made on Kansas, where, ac• cording to promise, freedom awaited them. So say the discoverers of " the plaat." In Ashley County, too, a similar plot is said to have been discovered. In Louisiana several public meetings have been held for purposes of precaution and protection. We advise the reader to believe as little as he can as to there being any substantive grounds for these meetings or this apprehen sion. It were too much to expect that the re markable divergence of the north and south on the slavery question, as shown at the recent election, should not have had some effect on the excitable mind of the oppressed negro ; but it ought also to be remembered the excitement of an alarm of a slave rising may probably form part of the Southern slaveholder's tactics as a means to bias the mind of the President at a critical moment. Either way we take these rumoured plots and this questionable alarm as additional. confirmation of our conjectures as to the policy of the Presi dent in esse. If the whole be a got-up affair, strong proof is afforded of the apprehensions of the South relating to the course Mr. 111117HANIN 'is likely to pursue. If plots really have existed, it may fairly be affirmed that a crisis has arrived when half measures will no longer do ; and he would be a bold man who, knowing the strength of the North and the divi sion existing between Mr. BUCHANAN'S suppor ters, ventured to assert he dare go " the whole hog" with the South. Our belief is he has neither the will nor the courage to do so, and should our suspicions be confirmed as to the nature of the apprehension entertained, another proof will be afforded of how readily unprincipled politicians in the hour of desperation, lose their wonted guile, and have recourse to the tactics of the lowest cunning. That the present aspect of affairs is really exciting considerable anxiety and alarm in the South will further appear from•the Message of the Governor of South Carolina to the Legis lature, which met a fortnight ago. The recent election is therein described as merely establishing a truce between the North and the South, and the Governor proceeds to recommend the revival of the Slave Trade, and to suggest the putting of every branch of labour in the hands of the slaves I The star of Africa glimmers yet more distinctly through the gloom, and middle aged men may entertain the hope that ere their sun goes down slavery in the United States will, by legislative enactment, be in the way of rapid extinction, if not put an end to altogether. Since the above was written, intelligence of a positive nature has come to hand which, if reliable, decides the matter. The President elect is re ported to have said in effect, to a deputation, that his policy would be Conservative, and specially adapted to reconcile the North and the South. We have much pleasure in directing attention to a report in another column of the proceedings that took place yesterday at the Commercial Bank of London. The public are perhaps aware that sinister rumours have been circulated by dis appointed parties in respect to the solvency of the Commercial Bank—and the natural consequence was a run—a run not for a day, or a week, or even a month—but for three long months ! —and what was the result ? Why, that after the hapless runners had run them selves out of breath, and probably out of p ocket too, there was more money in the Bank till at the end of the race than at the beginning—thanks to the over-candid malignity of the safe whisperers, and the returning con fidence of the misdoubting dupes ! The les son, however trying, may do good to other Banks, by acting with the same prudence as that displayed by the Directors and their most excel lent manager. THE TICKET-OF-LEAVE CURSE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlB,—The ticket•of-leave system has been on trial three years and is now universally condemned. It is already high time the 11th section of the act of Parlia ment was promptly acted upon, by revoking all the un expired licences, and warrants issued (as the act directs) by metropolitan police magistrates, to bring back the convicts at large, and then recommit them (as the act points out) to undergo the residue of their original sen tences. If the Secretary of State will not carry out the sec tion I mention then Parliament must at once repeal the act. The country demands that this " ticket-of-leave " curse be destroyed.—Yours obediently, Dec. 15, 1856. OBSERVER. P.S.—lf the public were aware of the number of leave tickets which have been granted, and the vagabonds who have been again convicted, it would produce no little astonishment. I hope some M.P. will call for a return of them when Parliament is assembled. Her Majesty, as a mark of her regard, and in honour of the alliance which is to take place between the Prin. Gess Royal and Prince Frederick of Prussia, is about to confer upon the hereditary Prince of Prussia, the father of Prince Frederick, the order of the Garter. Sir Colin Campbell has been appointed to convey the order, with an autograph letter from the Queen, to the hereditary prince. Sir Colin starts upon his mission this week. The public will be pleased by the selection of the envoy, as a proof of the manner in which the Queen takes every opportunity of doing honour to the heroes of the Crimea. The Rev. Allatson Burgh, M.A., Rector of St. Law rence Jewry, with' St. Mary Magdalen, Milk-street, died on Thursday, aged 87. Deceased, who ' was the oldest clergyman in the City, and, we believe, in the whole metropolis, if not diocese, was presented to the united rectories in 1815. It is at present computed that the shipments of speoie and bullion by the Indus on the 20th inst. will amount to about 350,0001., nearly all in silver. WESTERTON V. LIDDELL AND OTHERS.—KNIGHTS. BRIDGE CHURCH CASE.—Sir John Dodson has at length announced officially to the registrar of the Court of Arches that he will deliver his long-pending judgment in these suits on Saturday next, the 20th instant, at eleven o'clock precisely, in the Court of Arches. The electors of Stroud have issued an address, pledg ing themselves not to vote for aoy candidate at the next election unless he is prepared to support every measure having the repeal of the income-tax for its object. The address is already signed by about 500 electors. TEE PAPER DUTY.—The duty on paper in the year ended the 31st March last was 1,047,4301. In the pre ceding year it was 1,050,6291. THE HOUSE DUTY.—The house duty in the year ended the 31st March last was 728,6891. FIRE INSURANCE DUTY.—The amount realised by the fire insurance duty, in the year ended March last, was 1,280,4411. PENNY,RECEIPT STAMPS.—There has been an increase from receipt stamps", in the years ended March, of the .sum of 257,6311. Further parcels of gold to the eitent of about 11,0001. were taken from the Bank yesterday for the continent, in payment of silver. Of the 83,100/. in gold ex the Niagara, about half was on French account. The sum that came to London was about 40,0001. COLLISION IN' THE MEnsn.—LivEnro 01 4 Tuesday.— The screw steamer Canadian, in going into the Birken head Graving Dock this afternoon ca me into collision with railway steamer Nun, striking on her stern starboard side, severely damaging her. She had the pas sengers per railway on board. They were at once landed, fortunately without injury, and transferred to another steamer, and the Nun was hauled into the graving dock. INCREASED CONSUMPTION 01' TOBACCO.—From an offi cial paper just published, it appears that in the year ended the 31st of March last, the duty on tobacco and snuff was 5,006,6901. In the preceding year the duty VMS 4,773,5551. • LATEST NEWS. THE WAR WITH PERSIA. MARSEILLES, DEC. 15. , By the Journal de Constantinople we learn that a Persian proclamation has been issued accepting ,he war declared by England. The same authority states that the English have already taken possession of the Isles of Ormus and Karrak. The Russian troops are concentrated on the The friendly mediation of France is expected. Letters have been received which allege that Russian intervention will be carried into effect as soon as Prince Bariatinski, the Governor-General of the Caucasus, shall have been officially in formed of the disembarkation of the English at Bushire. DEFEAT OF THE CIRCASSIANS. The Journal de Constantinople of the Bth gives the following under the head of " Serious News " : —On the 22d Nov., the Russian General Philipson retook Sondjouk-Kale, and drove out the Circas sians after an obstinate resistance. On the follow ing day the same general captured a Turkish brig and 18 boats, under pretence that their papers were not regular. Some other boats escaped and got into Trebisond, where the consuls drew up reports of the affair. FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND. PARIS, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17. The Moniteur contains an article on the Neu chatel question, the details of which it explains. The French Government intervened with wise coun sels. It asked for the liberation of the Neuchatel lois prisoners so as to prevent any armed conflict, and to obtain a final settlement of the question. Switzerland would not follow those counsels. The Monitettr concludes with these words : 4 ‘ Thus France met with moderation a sincere de sire to terminate a delicate question, and a cour teous deference for her political situation, on the one side ; on the other, on the contrary, an obstinacy much to be regretted, an exaggerated susceptibility, and a complete indifference to her counsels. Switzerland, therefore, must not be as tonished if, in the course of events, she should no longer find the goodwill which she might so easily have obtained at the cost of a very slight sacrifice.' FRANCE. PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING. The Emperor and Empress yesterday forenoon gave an audience of leave to the Birmese Envoys, who are about to leave Paris. The Moniteur publishes a report to the Emperor, from Marshal Vaillant, Minister, of War, proposing, in consequence of the daily increase i❑ the general and special affairs, which tends to make the labours of the Council of the Government of Algeria more and more arduous, to add to the members of that body the Inspector-General of Finance in the colony and the directors of the political bureau and of Arab affairs. The report is followed by a decree carrying out the above recommendation. BOURSE, DEc. I.6.—The following were the last quotations : _ Cash. ft. c. 44 per Cents 3 per Cents 6O End of Month. —fr. —c. 66 35 New Loan Bank Shares • 4,103 Roman (a d) Credit Mobilier 1;435 Austrian Belgian Fives 9 7 3 /4 Spanish Threes Piedmontese (5) 9l 50 Home Debt RAILWAYS-FOR CASH. ____ _ _ _ _ _ _ - fr. c. fr. c Orleans 1,317 50 Western Northern 935 Strasburg Lyons 1,350 New Ditto Mediterranean — Grand Central Lyons Geneva Cette EGYPT. ALEXANDRIA, DEC. G. The departure of the Viceroy on his way to the southern provinces constitutes the chief event of the past fortnight. His Highness left Cairo on the 27th ult., and his absence from this country, it is said, will be prolonged over a period of from three to four months. Among the_ limited number of Europeans who accompany his Highness are M. Mougel Bey, the constructor of the Barrage, and M. de Lesseps, the projector of the proposed Isthmus of Suez Canal, •who arrived at Alexandria from Marseilles on the 22d ult. _ _ It has been decided that the expedition organised by M. l'Escayrac de Lauture for the exploration of the White Nile will for the present not proceed beyond Assouan. Among other schemes that have of late occupied public attention a prominent position has been held by the projected formation of a company for run ning a line of steamers between Suez and the princi pal ports of the Red Sea. The proposal originated with the Viceroy, whose chief object was that of affording greater travelling facilities to the immense numbers of pilgrims who annually visit the holy cities of the Hedjaz, at the same time entertain ing hopes that more frequent and regular com munication will tend to develope commercial inter course between Egypt and the countries bordering on the Red Sea. A board of directors, composed of six Turks and six European merchants, was formed, and the presidency given to Mustapha Bey, of the Viceroy, and son of the late Ibrahim Pasha, but the project remained in abeyance pending the concession of a firman from the Porte. At a meet ing of the directors it has however been announced, though not officially, that the Sultan has granted the requisite permission, and tha t he has subscribed a sum of 2,0001. towards the undertakini g. T his portion of the capital will be ß su ma pp , k l i ed have deposits in the old Egypt ' r which together with a long been unproductive, .an b Viceroy himself will be the chief ..tharle.ehdo f d r e o r m , and guaranteed by the 772 EfixgeydptriaanteGoofveinrotemreesott.will e AMERICA. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, The screw steam-ship City of Washington, Cap tainW. Wylie, has arrived with advices from Philadelphia to the 4th inst. She has brought 195 passe ngers. On the 7th inst., the City of Washington passed a large screw-steamer with two funnels, steering to the westward. The Secretary of the Treasury estimates the agricultural and manufacturing productions for the year 1855 in the aggregate at 2 ,602,363,924 dots. The Postmaster-General's report shows that on the 13th of June there were 25,565 post-offices. There were in operation nearly 8,000 mail routes, the total length of which was estimated at 235,642 miles, costing 6,035,474 dols. These mail routes were divided as follows :-23,323 miles railroad, 14,951 steam-boat, 50,453 coach, and nearly 154,000 inferior grades. On the Ist of December, 1856, the length of the railroad routes had increased to 24,310 miles. The total cost for this service at that date amounted to $2,402,747. The whole coat of the inland ser vice, on the Ist of July, was $ 6 ,526,028. He re commends the abolition of the franking privilege and compulsory repayment on all transient printed matter ; also the repeal of the act of 1845, which gives the Postmaster-General discretionary power to make new contracts for ocean steamship service. A proposition has been received from the British Post-office for a reduction of the postage between the United States and Great Britain from 24c. to 12c. the single letter. "i n answer, this Depart ment,* says the report,—. "Has indicated a willingness to accede to this pro posal, provided the transit charge on mails passing through England from and to the United States is re duced to 121 c. an ounce, the price paid by that Govern ment for the conveyance of the British and Canada mails through the United States. Arrangements have been made between the United States and Great Britain and Canada pro viding for the registration of valuable letters trans mitted between the three countries. The steamship Catawaba had arrived at New York from Savannah, with dates to the 29th ult. Business was improving. The stock of sugars was 100,000 boxes. The Receiver-General's office at Halifax had been besieged by the inhabitants for the purpose of seouring a portion of an importation of copper coins, pence and halfpence, which had arrived in the steamship Niagara. A razes. THE IA COME TAX. Last evening a meeting was held at the work house, in Gray's-inn-lane, for the purpose of pro moting the amendment and reduction of the income tax. The chair was taken by Mr. HOPGOOD, who opened the proceedings by explaining the objects of the meeting, and called upon Mr. Tidmarsh to move the first resolution. Mr. TIDMARSH—The provisions of the two last acts, by which the extra tax for the exigencies of the war was to lapse in the event of the ratification of peace before the sth of April, and pointed out that, according to the spirit of that provision, it ought to have so terminated, inasmuch as peace was actually signed before that date, though the formal ratification was not compl e ted some few days after. After commenting on the unfairness of continuing the impost under such circumstances, he proposed the first resolution, calling for the im mediate reduction of the income tax to 7d. in the pound. _ Mr. CLARKE having seconded the resolution, A GENTLEMAN pointed out that, even as the matter now stood, the tax could be reduced to sd. in the pound at the end of the current financial year, and suggested that the resolution should be modified so as to demand the immediate carry ing into effect of that reduction. (Applause.) Otherwise they would be asking the Government to tax them to the extent of 2d. in the pound more than the Government asked. (A. laugh.) This resolution was seconded by another gentle. man, who said that meetings were being held all over the kingdom, and resolutions were being passed in accordance with this suggestion. It be hoved them to be unanimous, and to work upon Parliament by pressure from without, which was the only way to make them do any thing. He also complained bitterly of the man ner in which the income tax was assessed, and said that the collector was a spy in every district. He also complained of the manner in which appeals were decided, alleging that it was almost useless to seek justice from the commissioners. He referred to the sale of the returns for waste-paper as an unjust exposure of their private affairs of every man of business, by men who had been sworn to secresy, and wondered " whose perquisites it was." (A laugh.) Mr. ELDON, following up the remarks of the . . last speaker ou the difficulty of obtaining justice by appeal, observed that all they did was to ask appellant how many children he had ; and then to make up their minds that a man with so many children ought to have such and such an income, and tax him accordingly. Other speakers urged the propriety of a protest against any tax whatever upon incomes not ex ceeding 1501. Ultimately these suggestions were adopted and the resolutions modified accordingly. As put to the meeting it was to the effect that the tax as at present existing was " excessive, and ought to be reduced by taking off the additional 9d. for the exigencies of the war, with a view to its total abolition," and also that the tax ought not to be levied on incomes of 1501. and under. In this form it was unanimously carried. A second resolution was also carried protesting against the levying of the same perceitage on in come and property. After which the meeting separated at an early hour. GREAT &ANDEL FESTIVAL. CRYSTAL PALAUE, MAY, 1857. The arrangements for this enormous musical exhibi• Lion of 2,300 performers progress in the most satisfactory manner. The interest and enthusiasm excited in musical circles is without precedent. The committee of th• Sacred Harmonic Society have already received offers of assistance from nearly 3,000 persons desirous of taking part in this great celebration, a number which does not include the society's own orchestra of 700 performers, nor those members of the musical profession whose po sition precludes the necessity of applications for engage ments. The provincial towns have come forward in a very unanimous manner. Birmingham offers a choir of 400 voices. Under the organisation of Mr. Oliver Mason, the able manager of the Birmingham Festivals, it is sug gested that rehearsals should at once commence. Brad ford has also a large force of picked Yorkshire vocalists at disposal ; while from Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, York, Hereford, Worcester, Gloucester, Norwich, Keighley, Huddersfield, Lincoln, Exeter, Peterborough, Oxford, Cambridge, Canterbury, Brighton, Leicester, Nottingham, and many other towns, applications to take part continue to be received ; and even from places as remote as Dublin, Edinburgh, and Belfast, communica tions have been made of the desire to be associated in this immense musical gathering. One of the most gratifying features in connection with the 1857 Festival is the spirit of emulation excited in the various localities. In many places which had not thought of Handel Commemorations plans are being put forward. The Crystal Palace Festival of 1857 will fail in one of its important objects if it does not excite, not only Eng land, but the whole musical world to put out its full strength i❑ 1859. Bearing in mind that 1859 is not only one hundred years from the death of Handel, but also fifty years from the death of Haydn, and fifty years from the birth of Mendelssohn, it will be apparent that this great celebration of May, 1857, will be but the precur sor of still greater solemnities, on an occasion on which so many interesting musical recollections will find their focus and meeting-point. The contract for the organ has been taken by Messrs. Gray and Davidson, of the New road, London. It will be on a really grand scale, with an ample supply of 32 feet and 16 feet stop.; ; the builders binding themselves to have it fixed complete in the Central Transept by the 25th of April next.—Literariuna. ALDERSHOT CAMP. Some idea of the enormous traffic which this encamp ment has brought to the London and South-Western Railway may be gathered from a perusal of the follow ing returns of troops and horses arriving at, and depart- ing from, the Farnborough station, from April 1 until Sept. 30 in the present year : Officers. Men. Horses. 3,412 1,779 Arrivals 1,690 ! 47,124 Departures Totals... 3,362 92,090 5,191 That the whole of this traffic should have been carried through without the occurrence of any serious casualty reflects very great credit upon the arrangements of the South-Western Railway generally, and pecially u p on that one of its executive officers to whom the care and direction of this important station has been entrusted for many months past—Mr. J. T. Garry. MARKET NEWS.—(This Day.) CORN EXC LUNGE. We had a fair show of wheat of home produce to-day, but most of the samples were left over from Monday. Very few buyers were in attendance, and the demand for all kinds ruled heavy, at barely stationary prices. Fine foreign wheats were held at full quotations ; but inferior kinds were dull and lower to purchase. There was a fair inquiry for barley and malt, and late rates were well supported. We had a steady sale for oats at full currencies. Beans, peas, and flour were unaltered in value. ARRIVALS THIS WEEK. Wheat. Barley. Malt. English .. 3,230 2 ,750 4,150 Irish .. _ Foreign } 19,090 1 '2,100 I Oats. I F 0 , . I '2,720 3,980 I -- 6070 brls I 14u scks, BOROUGH HOP. The demand for most kinds of hops is steady at full prices. WHITECHAPEL. The supplies of meat were only moderate, and the trade ruled brisk, as follows :—Beef from 3s Od to 4s 6d ; mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 8d ; veal, 48 Od to os Od ; pork, 3s 10d to 5s 4 , i per 81bs., by the carcase. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) LONDON, Dec. 17.--Wind this day at noon, Westerly ; light breeze and fog. PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 16.—Wind N.E. —Arrived —Her cules, from Cape Hay tien, for Copehhagen. for Havana. PLYMOUTH, Dec. 16.-Wind N.—The Baltic (s.s.), for Calcutta, has some damage to her engine works. FALMOUTH, Dec. 16.—Wind N.— Sailed—Caroline, for Melbourne. Pool,E, Dec. 16.—Wind N.W.—Arrived.—Cood In tent, from Bridport, for Newcastle, with loss of mainmast, and foremast sprung, &c. DOVER, Dec. 16.—Wind E.—Arrived.—Triumfante, from Cuba. TEIGNMOUTH, Dec. 16. —Wind N.N.E.—Arrived—Abe ona, from St. John's, Newfoundland. SWANSEA, Dec. 16.—Wind N.E. — Arrived—United, from Coquimbo • Appleton, Cuba. RAMSGATE, Dec. W.—The Maiequita, from Antwerp, for Havre, has been brought in in a sunken state, having struck on the Goodwin ; is discharging. MILFORD, Dee. 16.—Wind N. — Arrived.—Vigo (s.s.), from Havre, for New York, very leaky ; Siloam, Que bec. GRANGEMOUTO, Dec. 16. — Arrived—Liverpool, from Quebec. WETERFORD, Dec. 15.—Wind N.W. to N.—Arrived — Lavinia, from St. John's, N.B. GALATZ Dec. 2.—lt blew a heavy gale at Sulita on the 25th and 26th ' ult., and several.vessels were stranded. The Rebecca lost bowsprit, foremast, &c., and had more than three feet of water in her hold, with pumps choked. (PER ELECTRIC TELEGRAPII.J LIVERPOOL, Dec. 17. Wind W. Arrived —Nottingham, from Bombay ; Gannett (s 0 ), Rotterdam ; Suez, St. John's, N.B. ; Tigre, Parade ; J. P. Morse, New York. Sailed—Megunlieook, for Rio Janeiro. QUEENSTOWN) Dec. 15. Wind. N. Arrived—blineaota and Ilarathan, from New Orlean& Sailed—Reform, for Malta. SALES OF OLD STORES. (From the Timei.) As it seems decided by the judgment of every man who combines sense with spirit that England must remain at all times well armed and equipped for war, we ought certainly to carry into the examination of military and naval accounts some of that discernment and painstaking which are commonly applied to oivil matters. If our habitual state is that of armed preparation, we ought cer tainly to examine the proceedings of the War Department and the Admiralty with the same discrimination of detail that we watch the working of the Poor Law or any Othe;:domestic institution. Hitherto the financial part of the military system has been sheltered by the very violence by which the whole system has been attacked. The economists were still more peace men, and, in their ardour for general disarma ment, they disdained to descend to details of expenditure. If the Horse Guards and the Ad miralty, Woolwich and Portsmouth, ought not to exist at all, it was merely superfluous to inveigh against any shortcomings of those establishments. When the millennium should arrive of disbanded regiments, and frigates Wined into emigrant vessels, all minor evils of waste and in!. capacity would have passed away, and it was use less to have thought of these when the great day of deliverance from the whole system was at hand. So seems to have thought the Peace Party, which has furnished as yet our only military economists. But this enthusiastic policy is a thing of the past, and we want now something more mo derate, clear-headed, and professional. It is now decided that the country is to have all that it had before of warlike organisation, with much in addi tion that is new. Permanent camps and concentrated armies, military schools, frigates as large as line-of-. battle ships, cannon of inordinate size, rifles which are the perfection of science and skill, are among the new requirements of our defensive system ; and all these will have to be paid for. The question is whether they shall be paid for economically or with an utter disregard of expense. There is therefore, it will be seen, a field for the disciples of the economical school, but its, scope is limited, and to make effective use of it will require more attention to technical details than has hitherto been thought necessary. It is of no use for a member of Parliament to rise in the next session and de nounce military expenditure in tie gross, nor will it avail to point out that a seemingly large sum has been spent on what to the public appears a matter of small importance. The country would, however, be greatly indebted to any independent man who would study the subject, speak boldly and yet temperately on it, and show how those defences which the nation thinks necessary can be made effective for a less sum than is called for by the respective departments. The conclusion of a peat war is necessarily a time of waste. The world is glad to escape from the drain caused by hostilities ; it looks on the money raised for the war as lost, and hardly car es s to ask what has become of th e i m mense material 0 ' sustenance or destiuction that was laid up for the campaign which never came. The public think.: little of the screw line -of - battle ships ; . never asks where are the floating batten° , the wonders of which a year ago were in every body's mouth; the fleet of gunboats, with t heir fanciful names, has almost passed away frl memory. The army, with its foreign Legions and its Turkish Contingent, is dispersed, an d only tpe i profession knows much what has become of t• this be the case with such tangible national entities as regiments and fle e ts we cannot won ne l that horses and mules, carts and waggons, beef ° pork, wine, preserved vegetables, cocoa, hef'd straw, and all the materiel o f a campaign, ah °ll , o be utterly forgotten by the public, which ha s ` . a . immediate use for them. Yet how large part of the 52,000,0001. sterling, at which the • war expenditure of the year ending March,l6°_, was rated, must have been spent on these comm i t s place objects ! What has become, then, of a ll s mighty stock,. which was to carry us across P ere eal kop or into Georgia, to Nicolaieff or Tiflis ? S° st in of it is, of course, irremediably lost. Our hu ts :., es stand upon the bare plateau of Sebastopol; 1 1 and mules wander by thousands along the a lley home of Baidar. But much has been brought t again ; and what has been done with it ? the Government advertisements for the last tu r f c c sale months answer. Under the heading all of Stores" dealers are invited to bid RI suc h those articles which were sent out in war . haste and at such an expense to the seat of Meat, coffee, biscuit, rice, clothing, bedding, ha s ness, saddles, waggons, carts, fur coats a i ncl,.. a c x aP es : buffalo robes, waterproof covering, P; e s spades and shovels, nails, preserved indeaos; ores served vegetables—in short, every being for the use of troops in a campaign kieintlliteowdea lers sold off at merely nominal prices to Now it who surround our arsenals and dockyards.ing public cannot be denied that we, PaYseems most have a right to some details of whatof expla wanton waste. If the thing be capable . can snhaotiwont,halett it t t b is e ebxepttlearinetdo. the tax store till they is!, price than to keep them selll authoritiestthheesei that many o ' . hi n g things a ti a nz be satisfied. But it certainlyti hey wanted, let, the proof be g iv i e n n s , e a e n m d s every one Wal t were likely to be the articles would tastun 1 t waggons, and saddlerYi wanted again. Carts, tools, tin and liable to immediate dr copper not liable tents, boots, an " waterproof fabrics are struct i on , and, if we are to us us. It was the w a nt of keep ourselves re . a s l is for war, natu rall y seem the kind of articles will h we should hav e b y Or t a w hi c h rendered the army so "en i d osveable" at the beginning dos , of the war, fu irnh c t an imng not be doubted that if we be engaged in li tilities again the first call will be for such aPP T , auc es of a campaign. There is th ere fore an a s r ; par ent impolicy in maki ng away w ith th t e his things which requires to be explained. n h ,, t aD y is not all. Unless we be muc h misinformed, "cod of these articles ar e even now i n constan t use, if it have to be purchased by other depurtmente• be correct that while the War-office was 2e su ld preserved vegetables for any trifle they vr- ans e fetch the Admiralty was buying the "WY : s ins articles at the full price, the fact is certainly au a gular instance of administrative incapaci t r us of will bring conviction to those most incredulous official shortcomings. We trust, therefore, that in the next sese l s ° ,. /l s r t s ' s f Parliament the disposal of the vast military w oo collected for the campaign of 1856 will form subject of inquiry. The first cost of these " i ff e must be represented by millions. Let 11 ' roo ts formed what has been done with them, how .s . e d for remains, and what sums have been rec o e,lv Th e the articles which have been disposed i s _• bur scale of modern warfare is too great and military dens too heavy for the country to allow , l g " r " oss . expenditure to be looked at only , in a ins- There should be some public audit ha ve mense accounts. Let the economists_ran been accustomed to wage war againsteolin to a u°, - 1 , 4 d deal v i " coner and Gold Stick turn their attenthiem more worthy of their prowess. Letounds, wit h el millions instead of hundreds of an cares ser i " penditure which weighs down the nation instead of trifles whi ains, a little study,. ously about. It will require p the subject is well a little specific knowledge, b t t a i nd question is, how worthy of all these. The era rations with prosPa: e.anPndo malmost crushes are we to unite warlike prepa eace ? artstan of p Our posit ion rity and progress i n the °wet' s ding array and a p yr _ 0 unhapp il y ne cessitates a a great benefactor _ ful fleet ; and he will h these defences entail. shall teach us how to alleviate the burdens whit TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir, —The system acted upon by the Government from time immemorial, I believe, is this. To fraine the es timates for each a rticle for the yea r, get t he amounts voted by the Commons stabs contracts to absorb the amounts voted, and end of the year to sell by auction, perhaps for a tenth of the cost, whatever may remain unused of each artielea to clear the way for fresh estimates, v otes, a° purchases of articles precisely similar to those sold. I, a I lately learnt fro m a contractor that he .. t1 made purchases at a Government sale, and aftr wards taken contract s and delivered to the GoVer,ll:3 merit the articles so bought at five times tt` price paid at the auction. Those sales are 'matters which I have observel for many years, and have always been astonish° , that no public notice should be taken of thel3lol and notice, unless by influential people, Would course be waste of words. at' I congratulate the country upon finding they° yob ter noticed by the Times, feeling satisfied thatril,°o a very great s aving will be effected by the rera of a most absurd system.--I am, sir, your obeale' servant, Cisq s ' L o udon, Dec. 16. ort....:lrealcnammnseam...a........M.l FATAL SPORT.--An inquest was held last eire,silt before Mr. S. F. Langhain, deputy-coroner for ‘Y s o f minster, at the King's College Hospital, on the bodY s. Christopher Collar, aged eleven years and three mnth,tb On the afternoon of the 26th ult. the deceased Was ! I n his sisters, in a room the tea having been sent down as usual from the kitnirtrl on the second floor, in a squire box, fitted UP sql e at the back of his father's fiO„' of his sisters to get into the bth be might give 11 . 81. 0 pulley, c h a i n , and weight. The deceased persuaded ss, ride, but the little girl pingpuln out suddenly, as cro ss fright, the lox ascended with such velocity to a cfr o f beam that the chain snapped, and fell upon the b e the deceased, tearing off a part of the scalp. 'Verdict " A midental death." THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENIING, DECEMBER 11, 1856