The Sun. — London, England, 1856-12-18 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE:-1 M. • JTJLLIEN'S CONCERTS. Last Night but Two.—A Second Beethoven Night this Evening. -4 —Tenth appearance of Miss A. Goddard, the celebrated Pianist.—Thirteenth appearance of Miss Dolby.—Second appearance of M. Sainton. _ Programme for THIS EVENING (Thursday, Dec. 18): Part I.—Overture, Egmont—Beethoven ' • Arietta, "In questa topaba,?' Miss Dolby—Beethoven ; Concerto, Violin (First Movement), M. Sainton—Beethoven ; Chorus, " The Chorus of Dervishes," (from the Ruins of Athens)—Beetho ven; Concerto, in E flat, Pianoforte, Miss A. Goddard 13eithoven ; Songs, 'Youthful Flowers' and 'May Song,' Miss Domy (accompanied on the pianoforte by Mr. Land)—Bee- thoven ; Symphony. Symphony in A—Beethoven. Part 2.—Quadrille, the French Quadrille, with varia tions - for flute ; flageolet, oboe, clarinet, ophicleide, and cornier,, .perforrned by MM. De Foley, DeYong, Collinet, Pratten, Lavigne, Hughes, and Kceuig; Finale : Partant pour Syrie,- Vive l'Emperear—Jullien ; Serenade, Piano forte, from Donizetti's opera, Don Pasquale, Miss A. Goddard—Thalberg; Valse,.Excelsior—Jullien ; Cornet Obli gato, Herr Kcen'g ; Song, MSS Dolby ; Polka, My Mary Ann ; Solo, Cornet, the River and the Star. written expreAly for and performed by Herr Kcenig— Angelina ; Galop, Pelissier—D'Albert. Conductor—M. Jullien. To commence at 8 o'clock. Prices of admission :—Promenade, Is. ; Dress circle, 2s. 6d. ; private boxes, 10s. 6d., £1 Is., and upwards. Private boxes to be seemed of Mr. Nugent, at the box-office of the theatre ; at, all the principal libraries and musicsellers'; and at Jullien and Cft.'s, 214, Regent-street. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. THIS EVENING, will bra performed THE .SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL, with Mr Murdoch as Charles Surface; Sir Peter Teazle, Mr. Chippendale ; Sir Benjamin B ac kbit e, M r. B uc k s t one ; Crabtree, Mr. Compton; Joseph Surface, Nr. Howe ; Sir Oliver Surface, Mr. Rogers ; Moses, Mr. Clark ; Sir Harry (w th a song), Mr. NV. Farren ; Lady Teazle, Miss Reynolds ; Mrs. Candour, Miss Talbot ; Lady Sneerwell, Mrs. Poynter ; Maria, Miss E. Sabine. After which, the successful new farce, .A FAMILY FAILING, in which Mr. Buckstone, Mr. Howe, Mr. Chip perkdale, and Miss Blanche Fane will appear. With Perea Nena and her unrivalle'l Company of Spanish Dancers, in THE ALHAMBRA, being the last week of their final engagement. To conclude with A KISS IN THE DARK. THEATRE ROYAL, ADEL PHI. Genuine Success.—Unprecedented Attrac tion.—Second Week of Mr. Benjamin Webster, and re vival of the Great Adelphi drama of Janet Pride.—The grand New F a iry Ballet Extravaganza, THE ELVES, in which Madame Celeste will appear as the Statue Bride every night. THIS EVENING will be performed the celebrated d:ema of JANET PRIDE. Messrs. B. Webster, Wright, Paul Bedford, C. Selby, Parselle, Garden, Bland; Mesdames Celeste and M. Keeley. After which, with new scenery and appointments, the /few fairy ballet extravaganza, called THE ELVES, or the Statue Bride, founded on the grand ballet spectacle, now perform ing with unexampled success at the Theatre Imperials de !'Opera at Paris, under the title of Les Elfes. Principal cha racters by Madame Celeste, Misses Wyndham, Mary Keeley, Kate Kelly, Chatterly , Arden, Messrs. Weght, Paul Bedford, C• Selby, Le Barr, &c. 11 - ) OY AL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. _111) THIS EVENING and during the week will be presented Shakspeare's play of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. After which, THE CORSICAN BROTHERS, Fabien and Louis (lei Franchi, Mr. C. Kean. Mendelssohn's celebrated overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream will commence at 5 minutes before 7. TEIEA.TRE ROYAL, SADLER'S-WELLS. *Under the Mavu of Mr. Phelps. THIS EVENING, THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL. Sir Peter Teazle, Mr. Phelps ; Joseph Surface, Mr. 11. Marston ; Charles, Mr. F. Robinson ; Sir Oliver, Mr, J. W. Ray ; Lady Teazle, Miss M. Eburne, To conclude with BETSY BAKE Ft. 1110YAL OLYMPIC TH.EATRE. TA , siee, Mr. Alfred Wi(2,a.n.- TIT'S - EVENING, WIVES AS THEY WERE AND MAIDS AS THEY ARE. Messrs. Addison, G. Vining ; Mrs. Stirling, Misses Swanborough and Herbert. And the new farce, JONES THE AVENGER. Messrs, F, Robson, J. Rogers, and Miss Marston. Commence at ha , f-t)ast Seven. OYAL SURREY THEATRE LegAeag, Mesqrs, Sli9nlwrd an l Creswick. THIS EVENING, THE FLOWER GIRL ; or, Convict Marquis. ("canon, Mr. Creswick Louis Barennes, Mr. Cal vert ; Launav, Mr. Charles ; Baptiste. Mr. Widdicomb ; Le Beau, Mr, Vollaire Madeline, Miss Biddie s . After which, THE WAITE7I, AT CRE‘TORNE. To conclude with THE OUTCAST BROTHER. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. THIS EVENING, Shakgpeare's Tragedy of MACBETH, with Equestrian Illustrations by Mr. W. Cooke's highly trill:led Horses, Szc. 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-nest six ; commence at seven o'clock. Pox office open froth Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. -CI4NTERI3ITRY HALL. Westminster-road.— k../ OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of glections from all the popular Operas, .lladrigals, Choruses, GleeS, Duets, die., viz. :—Miss E Pearce, Mrs. .T. Caulfield, Miss Brunell, and Miss Summers ; Mr. .T. Caulfield, Herr F. Joughmans, R. Grover, T. Raine T. Farrant, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, end P. Corrie ; Masters Aus6n, Ben nett, and Corri; Mr. Sam Cowell and E. Mackne.v. Piano forte, J. ilarroway, B.A. ; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun. ; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre cisely. Suppers, (Sze., until twelve o'clock. In addition to the renal Vocal Enter' ainment, the elelorated ST'ANISTI MINSTRELS will appea^ in costume at Niue and Eleven o'cloCk Every Evening, and sing. some of their favourite selec tions. LuGR WATzn, AT LONDON 131111)q`r. THIS Di. —Morn. 16 min. aft. G—F.vening 39 min, aft. 6 TA-Mriaßow—Morn. 1 min. aft. 7—Evening 26 aft. 7 THE WEATITEII-37N OPricv, DECEIIBER 18. Tavniclo.r7.2, IN TUX SHADE. 47 . -highest rinse noon yesterday. 47 —lowest this morning and during the night. 49 ,t. neon. BARtntrr - mt, 29 94—a fall of half sn inch since yesterday. WiNn, W.N.W.—Light, with dull, rainy weather. A change took place in the night. J. 0., writing to a morning contemporary, says :--Sir,— The changes in the atmospheric temperature and pressure have lately been se remarkable that I venture to send von the following short extracts from observations at this place, for the information of meteorologists who may wish to compare these changes in different localities:— Thermometer—Dec. 3, 9 a.m, 25 deg. : Dec. 4, 9 a.m., 12 (leg. ; Dec. 6, 9 a.m., 47 deg. ; Dec. 7, 1 p.m., 57 deg. Probably the oldest, observer has never hitherto noted so low a temperature in December as that of the 4th inst. Barometer—Dec. 13, 9 a.m., 28'890 ; Der. 11, 9 a.m., 29 . 638 ; Dec. 15. 9 a.m., 30'400. Thin rise of more than an inch and a half in 4 7 4 hours is probably unprecedented. On searching the meteorological , records at our p hil osop hi ca l i ns titution here, whi c h hav e io e ?.." regularly kept for 13 years, I find that in December, 4 . 02 , between the 17th, at 9 in the morning, and the 18th, ~tO , lll the afternoon, the barometer rose from 2 3 900 to Preston, La.ncaAire, Dec. 1% , ( k 1 1 4) fr:431•‘;' 4 , 4 _ _ _ L mnoN, TattuaDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1866 _ LOUIS NAPOLE ON has fallen into another serious error. He has committed what, according t o TALLEYRAND, is far w orse than a crime—" a blunder," and one of a vet rave and important - character. It is difficult t, Conceive how any man of ordinary judgment could be So gr oss l y m i s l e d as to aap the foundations of the thron e on which he is placed. The only suitable illustration of seated n the the betiserie is that give n by 1100AI:tan on of the man sawing away a sign-post, while portion that must be det ached,and with which the operator must himself sustain a formidable fall. It may be regarded as a suitable sequel • to the onslaughts against the Belgium and English P re ss, although (if possible) i t • exceeds in folly either of these most ' ridiculous exhibitions. They might be placed in the same category with " biting the file," "kick : ing against the pricks," or any other time honoured illustration of absurdity. But in the present instance the French EM PEROR has gone much further. He has furnished the despotic Governments with a weapon to be used against himself, whenever a. fluting occasion map arise. He has ignored the authority by Whi ch he has superseded the L?gitimatists and the Or • leanists, and has given a direct sanction to any attempts that may be made on the part of either of the exiled families, and for foreign in terference to prevent the trials of those who may h av e violated the laws, and shed the blood of the defenders of established order, . and de facto Government in. their reckless and abortive efforts. FaEnzolck WILLIAM had far inferior rights in Neuchatel th an e i t h er t h e C ount CHAMBORD or PARIS in Prance. It was at least a mere empty claim, conferring no real power, and he had himself acquiesced in the results arrived at by the unanimous decision of the people. All that he desired was The assertion of an untenable Pitt' forward, -! until a comparatively recent period, by the Sove reigns of England to the French sceptre. It carried with it no substantia; power or influence, to Ilk S UN.' LONDON, 'II II IJ 1181) ii_Y•RV Eli IN (1. 1 'DECEM.BIint id, i 6 - 6 6 and the advocate par excellence of peace—the Monarch who could not be stimulated to action by any considerations of honour or expediency during the Russian war is now prepared to disturb the tranquillity of Europe !—in a per sonal quarrel of no r-al consequence to him self or any one else, except those who are defend ing their unquestionable rights and privileges. The bark of Clicquot is well known to be worse than his bite ; and his mysterious hints and ' ominous announcements would speedily be for gotten but for the injudicious, we might almost say the criminal, conduct of the French Govern ment. They have fanned the flame they under took to extinguish, and if war should arise it will be solely attributable to the proceedings of the volunteer peace-maker. Warlike Sir Lucius O'TRIGGER will force the German ACRES into the arena, hinting that there is very snuglying at Notre Dame. It is indeed a case of personal vanity with the second as well as the principal. The mediation of France was requested by Prussia, and that flattered his pride. It was most properly rejected by the authorities of the Swiss Confederation, and that irritated his amour propre. The advances of Clicquot were regarded as " a courteous deference" for his political situation, while the civil refusal of the Federal Republic to permit its inalienable rights and privileges to be frittered away is un hesitatingly designated as "a lamentable obsti nacy, an exaggerated susceptibility, and (hic illce laclbrymce) a complete indifference to French counsels." All this is very bad. It is in the worst pos sible taste and feeling. But more remains be hind. There is a very significant intimation, a scarcely concealed threat, that Switzerland must "not be astoniAhed if, in the course of events, she should no longer find that good-will which she might so easily have obtained at a trifling sacrifice I " This, in other words, is that France is prepared to join with Prussia, because her gratuitous offer has been civilly re jected—that she will strive to enforce a system on the people opposed to their wishes and feel ings. Such a course might without any glaring inconsistency be adopted by Russia or Austria, but no amount of the spirit of Imperialism can render congenial to the Government of the barri cades that which, whatever may now be the case, was founded and for some time sustained on the votes and the will of the people. What is the Royal Agricultural Society for ? Will somebody be good enough to tell us. Half the controversies that have agitated the world have either arisen or been greatly aggravated through the want of proper definitions. Else where, in our present impression, is a complaint against the society in question. It has done something it ought not to have done, or rather left undone something it ought to have done. So says a correspondent of a morning contemporary. To be more precise, he charges the Royal Agri cultural Society with having neglected to reward or encourage merit, in the person of Mr. FOWLER, the inventor of a new steam-plough. There can be no question, we imagine, as to Mr. FOWLER'S being worthy of reward or encour agement. His invention, in point of fact, is so deserving of approval that, despite the Society's alleged neglect of the inventor, he is admitted to be in the way of making a good thing of it, the agricultural community recognising and appreci ating its value, and proving their appreciation by applying it to the cultivation of their lands. The question of merit being conceded, are there ade quate grounds for charging the Society with ne glect of the inventor ? Was it its duty to reward or encourage him ? If it was, the charge, we take it, is established. If not—rhat is the Royal Agricultural Society for ? Let us glance at a fact or two in the case. Here, at all events, we have the above Society offering a prize of 5001. fur " the steam cul tivator which shall in the most efficient manner turn over the soil, and be an economical substitute for the plough or spade." To this we find appended the allegation that, of all the con tending parties, Mr. FOWLER was the only one whose invention at all approximated to the fulfil ment of the prescribed conditions. The prize was not given—no encouragement to Mr. FOWLER was offered—though, with a paltry improvement or twe, his invention would have won him the prize. This may have been properly withheld But was he not entitled to some encouragement ? In order to arrive at a conclusion we should know what the Society is for. Is it for the promotion of agriculture, by means of rewards offered to those who contribute to its progress by superior skill and invention ? If so—and what other definition can we arrive at ?—the Royal Agricul tural Society is clearly culpable. Admit that it was justified in withholding the prize, is it possible to believe the society did not fail in its duty when, with a confessedly most important inven tion, so nearly approaching perfection, and which must have cost the inventor so much money, brought before it, the inventor was suffered to leave the ground sans prize, sans medal, sans any sort of tangible reward or honorary distinction ? The interpretation of the matter seems to be this. The society, judging it by this instance, l has outlived its original spirit, and what is left of it is red tape. For anything we know to the contrary the executive mean well, and are inno cent of any deliberate unfairness to Mr. FOWLER or anybody else. If he had fulfilled the conditions it is quite possible they would have been glad to have given him the priz. Not having completely fulfilled them, " a miss was as good as a mile," and Mr. FOWLER was to them a nonentity, like the other competitors. What had they to do with his anxious labour and exhaustive expendi ture throughout six long years ? That was his look-out, not theirs. What public body nowadays feels bound to encourage the meritorious inventor? He was lucky to have the chance of winning so l large a prize, and securing the advantages likely to flow from it. We don't say the Executive re asoned thus—we question if they gave the mat ter further thought. They but carried out " the " ste rn." They followed, if unconsciously, the example o f Government, and societies having kindred o b jects even be u rged it, to their own. It may with what trut their favour—we cannot say 1 1 --they never dreansed of Mr. FowLEn's bein gmr porbobveedoef son t his inventionno rof taking advantage under the o s f u i m e ch c o bb ery to their profit and his pretence of hurt. They did not daily with him, they did n ot dispute his rights or se t others to question them, they did not weary him with obstructions until his heart wa s well nigh broke., All they did was to look at his invention, reject it, and forget him. Pity , sa y we, so much can b., said in way of palliation o f so grievous an err or Pity the Royal Agricultural Society followed the example of other and some more influential bodies so far. Pity, above all, public feeling i s not so outraged by the neglect thus shown t o inventors as not to make the ranker and grosser injustice hitherto dealt them as uus.afE , as it is unwise. But recognising the want of ordinary principle, the systematic and flagrant vie ration of the common decencies of morality, in dealing with merit which obtain in some of our C.lAum- locution Offices, it is impossible to be surprised. Neglect is a venial offence compared with robbery and heartbreaking. The excitement on the subject of the iniquitous Income Tax has increased, is increasing, and will speedily arrive at the highest point. Meetings are daily held in different districts throughout the country, where the speakers express their calm and deliberate determination to abate the social nuisance, and to remove the obnoxious blot from the National Statute-book, without a moment's unnecessary delay. They have made up their minds for its modification or abolition ; and nei ther the. Government nor Parliament will dare to resist the earnest pressure from without to which they will speedily be subjected. Let the agitation, then, proceed ; and if sufficient zeal and energy be displayed on the part of the people, we can promise an amount of success at no distant day beyond the extent of their most sanguine expec tations. The inhabitants of the various parishes in the metropolitan districts assembled on Tues day, as did also the Corporation of Dublin, to give expression to their views, follow ing the precedent afforded a few days since by the men of Southwark. Let others pursue a similar course, and, if equal earnestness be displayed, the battle will be virtually gained even before the meeting of Parliament. We have already explained the nature of the unfair and pettifogging arguments put forward to justify the continuance of the rate at 16d. in the 11. until the sth of April, 1858. Should Sir G. C. LEWIS persevere therein, he will prove that he is, indeed, a worthy successor to ,Mr. GLADSTONE —and prevent the people from ever again repos ing the slightest reliance on his honour and integ rity. We shall not, however, condemn him before he has the opportunity of being heard in his own defence. Thera is a locus penitentice, of which he may avail himself at any time before the delivery of the next financial statement, but he should not permit the chance to pass away. His political sentence will be pronounced if ho at tempts to put forth the arguments now advanced by comparatively irresponsible underlings. The increased impost was granted for one year from the sth of April, after the termination of the war, that time being conceded for the pur pose of permitting the accounts to be wound up. The Treaty was signet/ on the 30th March, but although the ratification was delayed for some weeks it was a mere formality, which could not affect the spirit of the enactment in any shape or form. If Sir G. C. LEWIS should attempt to take advautaea of mere words to enforce a claim not sanctioned by Parliament, he must not only be disqualified from holding the exalted position he now occupies, but from the society of every straightforward and honourable man. Another point strongly objected to is the exten sion of the area of taxation, so as to grasp within its meshes men at moderate weekly wages. Not withstanding the specious pretexts and elaborate arguments of Mr. GLADSTONE addressed to his favoured correspondent, Mr. PHELPS, of Birming ham, men in the receipt of SOINO 101. per month, strongly object to being made liable for speeial calls. They are by no means anxious of being permitted to rub shoulders with either the landed or the monied aristocracy. ,He well knows that on other occasions they ignore his existence, and he requires no change for that occasion only. But we will do justice : to the numerous class concerned in that extension. We believe that they are more annoyed at the gross inequality and palpable injustice of the so-called equal (!) apportionment than at the amount. As a body they would unhesitatingly agree to contribute equitably towards the national exigencies. But they cannot feel while they are drinking heavily taxed tea, sweetened with well-taxed sugar—while there is an extra Property Tax, charged on the house they inhabit—while their beer and spirits are subject to heavy imposts, that they should be brought within the same regulations as the owner of wide-spread domains, or the wealthy proprietor of some hundreds of thousands of 3 per Cent. Consols. That is the bitter part of the transac tion ; that it is that makes the iron really enter into their souls. Render the assessment fairly equitable, and you remove the main objection. It may be impossible to prevent the occurrence of some grievance. No merely human institution can be made perfect, but we venture to assert that there might be such an approximation as would content, with few and rare exceptions, the great body of the people. The best, being the most equitable as well as the most politic mode, is to tax all kinds and descriptions of property according to its capitalised value, without allowing any claim for exemption. As we have already stated, any owner of property, however trifling, is fairly liable ; nor will he, if an honest man, shrink from the responsibility. He will rather feel a pride in contributing his mite towards the support of our national institutions and establishments. He is a limited owner in fact, subject to the State mortgage. But the person who only possesses his own skill and industry is in a very different position. There being nothing tangible to tax he is subject to an inquisitorial examination as to his earnings, and, most vexa tious of all, with wages that have already been expended. In such cases the impost will prove the insuperable obstacle to parties making the first step towards improving their posi tion. " That money makes money" is a time-honoured adage, but when the first scanty savings are carried off by the collector, or possibly a debt contracted to satisfy his cravings, the hopes of improvement are, completely and permanently frustrated. The people, then, should strive to abolish the Income, but retain the Property Tax ; and, with some slight modifications, they will satisfy the claims of the National Exchequer in the most equitable as well as the most expedient form. - We invite attention to a prospectus—the Mona United Collieries Company, Limited, the object of which is to develope the resources of cer tain Collieries situated in the most cen'7 tral and best portion of the well-known coal Basin of Mons, in Belgium. A portion of the collieries is now in full work, comprising an area of 2,000 acres, and yielding a profit of 40,0001. per annum. The portion to be worked consists of an area of 18,000 acres--156 well ascertained seams running thro ugh their whole extent. This looks well, and promises a fair field for investment. Letters from Turin announce that as soon as the Piedmontese Chambers shall have assembled, a bill for a loan of 50 millions of livres will be presented. The steamer Alhambra has brought is £21,489 in specie. aad the Spanish screw steamer Hamburg° £20,000, both from the Peninsular. It is now estimated that the shipments of specie and bullion by the steamer Indus will reach the sum of £450,000 or £500,000, nearly all in silver. This amount is very much larger than was anticipated a day or two ago. It is apprehended in some quarters that the threat ened war with Persia will tend to stimulate the efflux of silver to the East. At Hamburg there has been a further advance in the rate of discount. About a fortnight back it had receded to 41-, but it is now again at 6 per cent. Lombardc:V4inetian Railway Company have an nounced a payment in London and Paris of 3f. 75c. per share, being six months' interest at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum. FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND. The following is the article in the /if omiteur , of which a telegraphic summary appeared in our im pression of yesterday : " The great Powers signed in 1852, at London, a protocol stating the rights of the King of Prussia on Neuchatel. The Government of the Emperor, bound, like the other Cabinets, could not, what ever interest he might take in Switzerland, dis avow what has been consecrated by treaties. " In 1848 a revolution took place at Neuchatel and broke asunder the bonds which connected the canton with the King of Prussia. That Sovereign constantly protested against the new order of things, making an express reserve of his rights, and has never ceased to raise his voice in favour of a portion of the population which complained of being oppressed by the victors. "In the month of September last the vanquished party endeavoured to take its revenge, invoking the name of the King. That attempt failed. The canton was occupied by the Federal troops, and the Neuchatelois taken with arms in hand were brought before Swiss tribunals. "This event would lead to a conflict between the Helvetic Confederation and Prussia ; for the former in advancing troops to re-establish order in the canton of Neuchatel pretended to fulfil a Fede ral obligation ; Prussia, on her part, found her honour engaged not to allow men to be tried who had raised the standard of the King, and who, according to their conviction, were fighting for right and justice. " The attitude of the Government of France from her geographical position must necessarily have a marked influence upon the settlement of this difference. Consequently, it was the interest of both parties not to neglect anything to make sure of its support. "The King of Prussia addressed himself to the Emperor, expressing to him, in emphatic language, all the interest he felt for men compromised in his cause. Ho begged his Majesty to request their liberation, communicating to him at the same time his conciliating dispositions. " The French Government, happy to be able to prevent a conflict between two Powers to which it is bound by friendly intercourse, hastened to comply with the request of King Frederick William, and, strong in its good intentions towards Switzerland, and with the knowledge of the conciliating senti ments of Prussia, it requested the liberation of the prisoners. " At the same time the Government of the Em peror did not conceal the happy results which that concession might have, as it would become a sort of obligation on the part of France to prevent any armed conflict, and to exert itself to obtain from the King of Prussia a final settlement of the ques t tion conformable to the wishes of Switzerland. "Unhappily these wise considerations have not been appreciated ; the counsels of France have been rejected, and the Federal Government .has preferred to yield to democratical influences which are agitated around it, rather than to comply with well-meant counsels inspired solely by the desire of effecting an amicable settlement of a question which, pending too long already, might, if more complicated, disturb the peace of Europe. " Thus France has met, on the one hand, with moderation, the sincere desire of terminating a delicate question, and a courteous deference for her political situation ; on the other hand, on the contrary, a lamentable obstinacy, an exaggerated susceptibility, and a complete indifference to her counsels. " Switzerland must not therefore be astonished if, in the course of events, she should no longer find that good-will which she might so easily have obtained at the cost of a very slight sacrifice." THE COMMERCIAL BARK OF LONDON. Towards the conclusion of our report yesterday, of the meeting, held at the Commercial Bank, a misprint occurred of too grava a character to be left uncorrected :—it was The Chairman, in returning thanks for himself and directors, is made to say " We are able to pay every shareholder 14s. (fourteen shillings) in the pound :" whereas, what he did say, with reference to the stability of the Bank, was, " Were we called on, we could pay every depositor BACK HIS MONEY IN FUA. ; and, in addition, 245. (twenty-four shil lings) to the shareholders." Surely nothing could have been more satisfac tory than this ; and that, too, after a run of three months ! We are glad to see The Times of this morning follow up our denunciation, yesterday, of the vagabonds who originally whispered about the lying rumours.—[En. SuNd The details published yesterday of the trial of Snell, a clerk on the Great Northern Railway for embezzlements, and of the shameful character of the late rumours circu lated to injure the Commercial Bank of London, afford further illustrations of the way in which mischief may be caused in the financial world by persons who, although utterly reckless of the safety of their neighbours or of the public, contrive to escape reprobation . The 'malpractices of Snell, it appears, originated solely in unsuccessful specu ations on the Stock-Exchange, and had he not found brokers willing to undertake and carry them on, he might possibly to this moment have preserved his cha racter. The facts, however, that he had only been a few years in the company's employ, that he was well known to have been taken into their service on account of his having been left unprovided for by the death of his father, a clergyman, and that he had, probably, a salary of less than 1501,13 em to have offered no im pediment to his finding individuals on the Stock-Ex change ready to conduct his operations. With regard to the mean offenders who make it their business to spread reports to break the credit of banks or commercial firms, it may be hoped that the exposure given yester day of the nature of the attacks on the Commercial Bank will stimulate the public in future to afford every aid in defeating the folly or malice of such people. Just to the degree in which a bank is well managed is its liability to danger from this source, since such establish ments reject all questionable paper, and, nine times in ten, the persons who concoct libels against them are smarting from the annoyance of having been refused ac commodation—Times' City Article. in ST. MARTIA'S HALL. Ilandel's masterpiece, " The Messiah, " was performed at this hall last night with great success. The orchestra, under the efficient direction of Mr. Hullab, acquitted themselves creditably. The chorus, as usual, consisted of his Upper Singing School. The solo performers were Miss Banks, Miss Dolby, Mrs. Gilbert, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr. Thomas. Miss Banks, who took the principal soprano part, distinguished herself by her expres sive rendering of the beautiful air which opens the third part, "I know that my Redeemer liveth." Miss Dolby, wno appears to great advantage in sacred music, sang with feeling and taste. Mr. Sims Reeves was eminently successful in the airs allotted to the tenor. Ile sang the fine air of " Thou shall break them with a rod of iron" with so much vigour and execution that the audience insisted on a repetition. Mr. Thomas, who pos sesses a good bass voice, was moderately successful in the difficult airs which fell to his share. The magnificent Hallelujah chorus was enthusiasti cally received by the audience, who appeared highly gratified with the performances. The hall was crowded. Queen Maria Christina of Spain paid a visit to the Pope on the 7th at Rome. Senor Mon, formerly Minister of Finance, has been appointed Spanish Ambassador to Rome. The Prince of Tuscany arived at Verona on the 12th with his young bride. The Duke of Devonshra continues at Kemp Town. Mr. Andrews, of Southampton, is now making for the Queen a beautiful garden pony carriage, similar to the one he bad the honour to build for her Majesty a few years ago. It is expected that the canonry of Salisbury, vacant by the elevation of the Rev. Mr. Bickersteth to the bishopric of Ripon, will be given either to the Rev. Samuel Waldegrave, of Barford St. Martin, or the Rev. Mr. Cadman, of St. George's, Southwark. The living of St. Giles's, it is expected, will be con ferred on the Rev. Mr. Carr, of Maida•hill, or the Rev. Mr. Thorold, one of the curates of Marylebone. THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.—Mr. Newall, of Gates head, is engaged to make one half of the Atlantic tele graph ; Messrs. Kuper and Co., of London, the other half. We understand that these firms are under con tract to complete their respective portions in the course of the ensuing summer. The Gateshead Observer says : "It may assist the reader to a fair conception of the immensity of the task to state that Mr. Newall will have to twist strands of wire as an outer protection of the electric line itself 25,000 miles in length, or long enough to go round the whole earth, and leave a sufficient length of wire for Archimedes to swing it round his head witiv if be had but that standing point which he coveted for his experiments !•' EXTRAORDINARY PASSAGE OF AN ABERDEEN CLIPPER. —The Imogene, of 247 tons, Captain Vingoe, built by Duthie, of Aberdeen, and owned by Messrs. Falconer and Mercer, of London, has just returned from Algoa Bay in 47 days—the quickest passage on record. ATEST NEWS. THE SEIZURE OF TURKISH BOATS BY THE RUSSIANS. The Journal de Constantinople gives the fol lowing details of the seizure of the Turkish boats by the Russians, which was briefly mentioned by telegraph :—" A. merchant vessel under Turkish colours, and 18 large barges, laden with mer chandise, left Trebizond with their papers all regular, and signed by the Russian consul. They arrived on the 19th November at Souclouk- Kale, of which place the Russian General Philippson took possession on the 22d with several thousand men, driving out the Circas sians. During the conflict which took place all the merchandise belonging to the boats was pillaged and taken away. The general declared to the Turks that justice should be done them, and for that purpose he sent all the boats to Kertch, with an escort of soldiers more numerous than the sailors belonging to them, in order that the governor of that town should examine into the affair. The boats stopped at Anapa, where, it is said, the Turks were badly treated, and even imprisoned until their departure. On leaving Anapa for Kertch the Turks appear to have overpowered their escort, for instead of going to Kertch they reached Tre bizond, minus their merchandise, but bringing the Russian soldiers with them in triumph. This mystification would be amusing enough were not serious interests at stake. The Turks naturally claim an indemnity for the merchandise stolen from them, and also complain of a flagrant viola tion of the law of nations. How the affair will terminate it is impossible to say, but it already occupies the diplomatic world, and may give rise to serious complications. The English are as furious at it as the Turks, and regret that their squadron in the Black Sea had not been reinforced." Pbwers. Prince Daniel is still endeavouring to persuade France to acknowledge the independence of Mon- tenegro. • FRANCE. PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. Austria is the only Power that signed the Treaty of Paris which has not yet named a representative at the Conferences. It is generally thought that M. de Hubner will represent the Cabinet of Vienna. Marshal de Castellane arrived yesterday in Paris, where he will remain until the 21st. General Du montel is charged with the command of the troops during the Marshal's absence. A. deputation of Moldo-Wallachian boyards, re cently arrived in Paris, have presented the follow ing address to the Emperor : " The deputies of the class of boyards fulfil a sacred duty in hastening to express their gratitude to the generous sovereign of France, whose sym pathies are for us of inestimable value. The idea of the union of the Roumain principalities into one State, a plan noble, well conceived, and supported by the kindness of the Emperor Napoleon, and which forms at the same time the sole object of our wishes, fills our hearts with joy. We are firmly convinced that in this union will be found the force and future prosperity of our country. To accomplish that wish, which is shared by all the population, we only need the support of provi dential France, whose mission is to watch over the destinies and prosperity of nations. The accom plishment of this wish will cause the Roumain people to feel eternal gratitude and sincere attach ment for France, and will make the memory of the Emperor blessed by us and our descendants." AT courier arrived from Berlin last night and proceeded at once to Fontainebleau ; another ar rived this morning with despatches for the Prussian Minister. BOURSE, DEC. I.7.—The note of the Moniteur about the affairs of Switzerland has been inter preted favourably at the Bourse, and prices have rallied. The market continued improving to the close, when the following were the last quotations Cash. fr. c. End of Month. 4i per Cents 3 per Cents 66 GO 66 95 New Loan — Bank Shares 4,100 Roman (x d) Credit Mobilier 1,485 Austrian Belgian Fives .. 99 Spanish Threes Piedmontese (5) 9l 50 Home Debt RAILWAYS—FOR CASH. fr. c. fr. c Orleans 1,310 Western Northern 940 Strasburg Lyons 1,375 New Ditto Mediterranean 1,740 Grand Central Lyons Geneva,, 740 Teste Cetto A letter from Berlin, in the Ost Deutsche Post, states that an aide-de-camp of Admiral Prince Adalbert left that city on the 11th for Portsmouth, to inquire into the condition of the Prussian frigate Thetis, now in that port, which had suffered se verely in the late heavy gales. The Thetis, of 40 guns, occupies the second rank in the Prussian navy. WEST INDIA MAILS. The Royal West India mall packet Magdalena arrived at Southampton last evening with the West India mails. Her dates of sailing are :—Greytown, Nov. 19th ; Panama, 23d ; Jamaica, 26th ; De merara, 25; Barbadoes, 28th ; Porto Rico, Dec. Ist ; Dominica, Nov. 29th ; St. Thomas, ,Dec. 2d, 6.30 a.m. The Magdalena brings twenty-seven first-class passengers. The freight on board includes specie of 470,350 dollars value in silver, and 49,735 " Plata Pina ;" dollars value in gold and gold dust, 501,500 ; total 1,021,585. Lieutenant D. E. Orr, R.N., late of the Imaum, died on board on the 14th inst. and was buried at sea. Quartermaster James Bolan, of her Majesty's ship Orion, and John Wilson, of the Eurydice, also died during the passage home as invalids. Her Majesty's ship Eurydice was at Barbadoes on the 28th ult. ; Brilliant at St. Thomas on De cember 2d; Orion, Arrogant, and Intrepid, at Colon on the 24th ; Imperieuse, Archer, Pioneer, Cossack, and Victor, at Grey town, on the 26th ; Imaum, Termagant Euryalus, Amphion, Tartar. and Atalanta at Jamaica, on the 27th; the Arachne was expected at Antigua on the Ist inst. A Spanish squadron composed of three frigate, six paddle steamers, a nd one brig, was at Ha vannati on the 17th November.i The West India mail packet Wye broke down at Grenada, and the Dorwent was to take her service on that route. The Jamaica legislature met on the 11th of No vember, when, in the absence of a gove rn or , Major General Bell:lieut.-governor, opened the Council and Assembly, for the purpose of enabling them to make such provision for the public service as was otrhe congratulated island. dThe e rendered necessary b y the ex p ir y of several por t an t revenue acts on the 31st Decemb er next. Ithne his speech on the chthel p ie ro u s t p y e r.-g r o i tv ofn House of Assembly two days afterwards voted a reply, in which it was said : n period of theyour Excellency's condition - "During a'l M O f in th iS ; traO:.nomtallteerbiref ailcha ggeneral colony has been perceptible. W e rejoice in witnessing the present state of the mark e t s f or colonial produce, and the prospects of the coming crops. But, though we regard these circumstances as encouraging, they do not augur any sensible amelioration in the condition of the country, nor promise permanent advantage so long as the slave trade is permitted to exist in its . present aggravated form, in de fiance of existing treaties." The early arrival of 500 immi• • grants from the Cape Verd Islands was expected at Jamaica. The island was healthy. The business of the past fortnight (says De Cor dova) has been remarkably dull, although there have been several arrivals. The market is amply supplied with provisions, but trade is inactive. Since our last, considerable inconvenience has been felt in commercial circles for want of silver, which is difficult to obtain even in our banking establish raents. Several invigorating showers have fallen throughout the island, and the coming crops seem favourable. The legislature is now in session, but no alterations have been made in the tariff or ton nage dues, as was contemplated. Exchan g e on London, 90 days, per cent. prom. ; 60 ays, 1 per cent. prem. ; 36 days, 1i per cent. premium ; private bills, at par. In British Guiana considerable embarrassment was experienced, owing to the unexpected failure of the negotiations for a new immigration loan. The Combined Court was to meet on November 23, to consider what could be done. The Governor's cir cular letter to the proprietors of estates who had applied for immigrants, informingk them of the failure of the negotiations for an immigration loan, and of the consequent impossibility for the colonial government to make any advance, as contemplated by the ordinance, for the payment of the immi grants who are expected to arrive shortly from India, and that there was no alternative but for the parties who wanted immigrants to pay down the whole amount in cash, had been much com plained of, but its reasonableness was being gradu ally recognised. The weather during the past fortnight had been too showery to be agreeable to the planters. The exports during the fortnight included— Sugar, 3,649 hogsheads, 259 tierces, 68 half-tierces, 1,771 brls., 350 bags. Rum, 1,127 p unc h eons , 276 hhds., 56 brls. Molasses, 414 puncheons, 20 barrels. Trade among the merchants had improved since the issuing of the Compensation Bonds to the Por tuguese. Freights had also improved during the last fort night, and had risen from is. to 2s. 6d. for sugar, and from 2d. to 3d. for rum. A correspondent, dating Barbadoes, Nov. 27, says • .- 46 Our market has continued to receive am ple supplies of provisions of all kinds, and ship ments having followed each other so rapidly it has been impo7ible to maintain prices. Constant rains have caused a material improvement in the appear ance of our cane fields ; and should the former co ntinue, the sugar crop of 1857 will probably reach 35,000 hogsheads, being 9,500 hhds. less than that shipped this year. Prospects as to prices next season are cheering for the planters. The harves t will be general in March. The island is healthy ; the weather very pleasant." PANAMA. Panama was healthy. One railway was in a secure and good state. In harbour, the flag frigate American Independence, and the sloop of war St. Mary, United States. Admiral Bruce, commander in-chief of the English naval forces in the Pacific, was daily expected at Panama and Acapulco. CHILI AND PERU. _ We have advices from Valpariso to the Ist, and Callao to the 12th of Nov. Chili was tranquil. The dispute between the civil power and the clergy had been happily terminated, the bishop having been3compelled to submit. Her Britannic Majesty's screw frigate Tribune, 36 guns, had arrived at Valparaiso, after a long passage, from Rio. Busi ness was rather slack in Valparaiso, and freights difficult, to be got. Mines in Copiapo are doing a middling business, and the railroad is being ex tended into the heart of the mining districts, to facilitate the exportation of the ores. In Peru some agitation in favour of Vivasco seemed to be spreading in Ariquipa, Troops bad left Callao to repress it. Business was very slow. H.B.M.'s screw frigate Esk, Captain Sir Robert Maclure, arrived at Callao on the 4th October and left for Panama on the 11th. The same day Admi ral Fourichon, commander-in-chief of the French naval forces in the Pacific, gave up his command into the hands of Admiral Lugcot. The next day Admiral Fourichon left Callao, accompanied by the officers of his staff, for France, on board the English packet Limo. He was saluted in the warmest manner by all the crews of the French ships in harbour. The crew of her Britannic Ma jesty's frigate President joined the French iu their manifestations of regret on the departure of Ad miral Fourichon, through the gallantry and kindly feelings of Captain Frederick. L'ANNONCIATION. PRINT PAR JALABERT. An exquisite and most touching illustration of Holy Writ, and one in which the artist has evi denced in a remarkable manner the originality of his conceptions. Often as the divine incident of the Annunciation has been portrad before now, it has never yet to our knowledge been depicted more truthfully or more beautifully. Although the wondrous theme selected by M. Jalabert has taxed, again and yet again, the imaginations of the greatest painters of all the great schools without exception, from the period of the mediaeval revival of the Art by Van Eyck downwards, through genius after genius, to some of the noblest tips ters, of the present century, in Christen dom. The conception and general treatment of the occurrence, as here delineated by the reverent hand of M. Jalabert, appear to us pecu liarly, among the many meritorious characteristics of the picture, those most especially entitled to our admiration. It is when viewing it in regard to these, more particularly, that we are disposed to accord to it, so earnestly and eagerly, the palm of preference, despite even of those immeasurably superior claims upon our homage in other respects recognisable in the productions of the artist's many renowned predecessors. The Annun ciation, as it is here depicted by the penci l of M. Jalabert, reveals—to the right, the Virgin—to the left, the Archangel. The beauti ful form and features of the Hebrew maiden —(Aneilla Domini, chosen by the Omnipoten t God, for her purity, from among all the millions upon millions of the daughters of Eve, to b ecorae the hallowed channel of Redemption) --- a re scarcely noted beyond the first instant by the spectator, so subordinated are all the c.ha,rnis of mere eorporeal loveliness, whether of hue or of outline, to the spiritual expression, thrown into the sweet, calm, holy, ineffable Celi na tenance I The Annunciation is re presented as occurring when the Blessed Virgin i t at prayer, upon her knees, in the st;clusion o f her own chamber—when, in the midst of her de votions, she is startled by the Celestial Appaxition• Startled, but not affrighted ! For the artist has indicated this with a pencil of subtlest discri mination. The " Handmaid of the Lord" sur prised into a look of astonishment as she turns her face towards the Heavenly Visitor—shrink in un consciouslyher as she does so against the wall upt er tu rbable p right hand—gazes upon the splendour of the Arch angel with an aspect of perfect and 'm _ serenity. It is a touch, this, little le as , i n its • way, than the touch of genius —the b oily IS startled, the soul is calm floating in mid-air, with wings furled , a blooming lily in his grasp, an aureole of glory about his head--there, upon the left, gazing down upon the young Thrgin . e mo is rati of t he o'er, the Bearer of the Divine AnnounCE an ent• as he speaks, appears Gabriel, the angelic M essen cpoimctmure exquisite as a Al w to c g r e k th o e f r, ar w t e Annunciation holy mystery of the • • breefuetait;ully the EVANGELINE. PAINTED BY THOMAS FAED. Beautifully has the artist here re alised the poet's lovely creation---" Evangeli ne . i5 l hardly so much the E vange li ne of Waed 8$ h - Longfellow. It is th e "literal portr ait'' Acadian maiden as she must have appeare d in th e very crisis of her pathetic history, in the j e : ll 9 . midst of her sorrowful wanderings.wanderings.Not% - ' 4°. ;b o gelino as she l oo k e d w hil e standing " ano nq guests of her father," when— ew " Bright was h er f ace with smiles, and wor Ifs of come and gladness as e s b Fell from h er b eaut if u l li ps, an d bl esse d th e , DtiP gave it." h e Neither, as s h e was w h en sea t e d upon. th at t he morable evening by the side of Gabrif * 1 ,ilihis " twilight gloom of a window's embrastai e; pored to, and whispering, while— one, ~0 0 0 " Silently, one by in the infinite meadow' l 01° ,4 O. Blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-mtm lots angels." r Yet Evangeline, none the less—the to iae ca l l ed shine of Saint Eulalie," as the neighbor aro , t he fret her, the pride of the village of Grand , ove diat glory of the house of the rich farmer P, e a Bellefontaine, the betrothed of " Gal)] 'lei "i iria r nesse, the son of Basil the blacksmith ! danc ed geline, "young and fair" still, as when s",, d dier, to the music of the strings of Michael, ie7bearts the merry old wight, with the "gayest I as one and of waistcoats 1" But sad and split a rltrilope, who never, alas, with all her ample dow I ° was fated to— delight Aga abundance, Ifllo f ". . . bring to her husband's house, • It is the Evangeline, in fact, 0 Filling • love and the ruddy faces a vre read but of the Search. Evan eline, of whoc "through our tears"— g imperfect' Something there was in letf ' her life, incorop I unfinished ; d 0 1111. As if a morning of Jane, with all its 13201 do an shine Suddenly paused in the and, fd . . sky, a 03 1 0 not of the 1. Betrothal')fchdre ecended bad aria . 31 Into the East again, from whence it late be piotopirlo, Themoment chosen by Mr. Faed for t e i delineation of Evangeline is one of tho il e vic'fill , e 4 t ' Longfello I meats commemorated by the Muse of in the passage which relates how — , hv the " Som • etimes she lingered in towns, till, urgeu fear within her, . h 00 4 , slow:Yede: . She would commence again her endless search Oa endeavour; Sometimes in churchyaris strayed, and 91 t ad °- ~, 0 1 crosses and tombstones, SAT BY SOME NAMELESS GRAVE AND TER ) 15G-1 1 ~ PERHAPS IN ITS BOSOM' 1:0113$P HE WAS ALREADY AT REST, AND SHE LONGED TO fl BESID E HIM." 10 Wrapped in her cloak, seated u p on a ' " Dame 1 10 to it grave " with the rudel y -carved stone c Bey a" . 0 head, her dark tresses uncovered in all t] le 01;0 but affluent braids, her sweet calm 8,36%id0ti gazing upon vacancy in the depth of her ' `.11 :; pi° . meditations, that is the Evangeline , o ra f n t g ' e jj - 02 , ture and of the poem—it is Ftted's El and Longfellow's Evangeline. A love] Y P ar i t t r bat ture of Youth, Grief, and Beauty-33 ap ° , n ' a in " springs eternal in the human breast") 1 ill in Voll the eyes of the solitary maiden ---Despair as / j '- -oa expressed in the gloom of the surrourtai tug scape ! -----=------- ---------_—__ A correspondent of the Morning A dvel , tise been (I iscovered that, according to "Burn's E Lan," . vol. 1, page 69, the judgment pronou. tee d by Archbishop (t Canterbury upon Archdeacc 11 of th° even if confirmed by the Judicial Commit tee e e o ld and Privy . CauLcil, will only apply to the vicarage de acon 0' will not deprive him of the office of Arch ''''' Taunton. reegaleYsi:iyattiptc:°aol THE PARIS CONGRESS. The Presse of Brussels contains a Paris letter, signed "Y.," whose communications are remarked for being generally correct. In announcing that Count Walewski is to preside at the conferences which will shortly open at Paris, the writer says : " I may even go farther, and declare that if the nature of things had not attributed that position to the count, the sentiments expressed by the Eng lish Cabinet show that that power would have been most anxious to place him there by its suf frage. I am here, I know well, in contradiction with the rumours which have been current on the subject for some time past. The violent articles which have appeared in the English papers cannot be forgotten ; but I believe that I am perfectly ex act when I affirm that the English ministers reject most energetically all responsibility in such article;, and protest against every idea of interfering in the internal affairs of France, and particularly against any attempt to deprive Count Walewski of the position at the conference which his post of Minister of Foreign Affairs in the country where the conferences are held entitles him to. I may add that, on this point, declarations have been communicated to the count by official personages of a nature to be altogether satisfactory." The same letter adds that Baron de Brunnow will again represent Russia at the conference, thus taking the place which ought in the ordinary course to devolve on Count de Kisseleff. The reason of the change, it declares, is that the baron, from having taken part in the former conference, is better qualified to follow the pro ceedings on the present occasion. THE EAST. We have received the Constantinople journals and letters to the Bth, brought by the Indus. It appears that it was at one time in contemplation to have the conferences for the settlement of the existing differences held at Constantinople, but France expressed an opinion that they ought to be held in Paris, and England and Austria acceded to the wish expressed. The present mo ment appears to be the time for diplomatic visits at Constantinople. On the day before the packet sailed Reschid Pacha visited the French, Austrian, and Russian ambassadors. From the first two he received a cordial welcome, but from M. de Boutenieff it was only polite. It was expected at Constantinople that France would come for ward, as the mediator between England and Persia, and in consequence of this new attitude of France, it was expected that Ferouk Khan, the Persian envoy, would shortly leave the Turkish capital for Paris. He had dined a few days before at the French Embassy, no other persons being present but M. Bouree, the French ambas sador to Persia, and the Spanish Minister. THE OUTBREAK IN SICILY. Official despatches have reached Paris, dated Palermo, clearly eaaett Palermo, December 8. Baron Bentivegna is a p risoner in the hands of indicating islandthwaats a t the again revolt tranquil.wa s the royal authorities. A g reat many other per in sons have been captured, reslyh atanhdde executeda t a rr r ri riawivlvi arrived oeftuvrhetoermya theeNde auaycspoel es f Dauntless, anchored off v tsboe e un r tHe y t onemo e orf x mi lo t t e hen n na: j s c e i Ke v s te wasii yn . m,gstm. of O er brg Thedi Palermo on the 7th. The Paris correspondent of the Morning Post, in his letter dated yesterday, says : " I am still inclined to believe the Emperor will not countenance hostilities against Switzer land. He has himself enjoyed the hospitality o that free land ; for Switzerland receives, like England, tho political exile, whether Royal, Im perial, or Republican. The Paris Correspondent of the Times (second edition) says : " The people discover in the article in the Moniteur a fling at the English Government, or at least at Lord Palmerston. The . aliusion about cg demagogues" is thought to be to his address. ethers believe that the attitude thus as sumed by France will bring the quarrel to a speedy solutiDu. Against Prussia and France what can Switzerland do ? About two or three months ago the Emperor certainly took the Swiss view of the question. It was only after M. Hatzfeld had arrived at Barritz with an auto graph letter from the King that a change was per ceptible. That change bas gone on since then. After the article in the Moniteur surely the King of Prussia cannot refuse visiting Paris. I just learn that the probability of an arrangement is again spoken of, and even that the Confederation will send a special agent to Berlin." it is exceedingly difficult to obtain any reliable intelligence from Persia. Some journals of Gerp many declare that 40,000 Russians are approach ing the frontiers, and that the Turks have an army of observation, consisting of 35,000 men, ready to occupy Erzeroum. This force is com mantled by Ismail Paella. Turkey is ready to become our active ally, if England will provide the necessary funds. There is an impre. - ssion in Paris that France will succeed in preventing hos: tilities ; but the aspect of affairs in Asia, according to late despatches, is such as to demand the most anxious attention. The coming Conferences cannot take place so early as was desired, owing to the hesitation of Austria, and the want of full instructions, which the envoys are all anxious to get from their home Governments before the meeting takes place. Herat surrendered from want of provisions. A Vienna correspondent of the Frankfort Post Zeitung positively denies that France has offered to mediate between Denmark and the great German