The Sun. — London, England, 1856-01-14 00:00:00

THE SU N, TO ARRIVE THE SAME EVENING, supplied to any STATION on the EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY, Carriage Free, by CLAYTON and SON, General :Newspaper and Advertising Agents, 265, Strand, London. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY•LANE. Lessee. Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, THE GREAT GUN TRICK. After which, 11g1" DIDDLE DIDDLE ; or, Harlequin ring Nonsense end the Seven Ages of Man. • THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Under the Management of Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, THE BE AUX STRATAGEM. After which the New Comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE BUTTERFLY'S BALLis ANT THE GRASSHOPPER'S FE AST ; or, Harlequin and the Genius of the Spring. To c•n:lude with ONLY A HALFPENNY. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. OXr3"-'81.3"r -, Under the Management of Mr. Cfsaatis KaAN. THIS EVENING. The Historical Play of LOUIS XI. Loafs (King of France). by Mr. Charles Kean. After which, HARLEQUIN AND THE MAID ANO THE MAGPIE ; or, the Fairy Paradisa and Hanky Panky, the Enchanter. ilirlegitin, Mr. Carmack ; Clown, Pantaloon ; Mr. Pauli; awl ColumAno, MIS 3 Carolina Adams. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPRT. Proprietor, Nfr. R. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENLNG, DOMESTIC ECONOMY. After which, URGEN/' PRIVATE AFFAIRS. To conclude with JACK AND THE BEAN STALK ; or, Ittrllquirt and Mother Goo3e at Home Again. In which Mcisrs. J. Bland, P. Bedfor,l, Madams Celeste, Miss Wyndham, and Mtn E. Arden will appea r. ROYAL SURREY THEATRE. Lessees, Messt , . Shepherd and Creswick. THIS EVENING PARIS IN 1792. To conclude with A PIUNCE OF PEARLS; or, tier'Nun! and Jane Shore. itOYAL STRAND THEATRE. Under the direction of Sir. Payne. THIS EVENING. THF. HOLLY TREE INN. To conclude with ZARLEQUIN,BLACK-EYED SIIE; or, All in the Downs and Davy Jones's Locker. It3YAG OLYMPIC TIIEATRE. Lessee and Mana;er, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THT3 EVENING, THE JELLOUS WIFE. Characters by Messrs. A. Wig in, G. Vining, Emery, Leslie, Dan vers. Mrs. Stirling. and Miss Marston after which will be produced a New and doubly-moral, though excessively old, Melodramatic Fairy Extravaganza, entitled TILE DISCREET PRINCESS; o - , the Three Glass Distaffs. In which Messrs. Emery, F. Robson, H. Cooper, Miss Marston, and Miss Maskeil will appear.' ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Leine and Manager, Mr. Wm. Cooke. The Greatest Wonder of the Day is the Equestrian Comic Panto mime. The Last Morning Performance will be on Saturday, Jan. 19th. THIS EVENING, The Romantic Equidrame called ROOKWOOD; or, TURPIN'S RIDE to YORK. After which the EQUESTRIAN EX ERCF4ES In the ARENA, the Invention of Mr. W. Cooke, including Master George Cooke. the little Cherub, on his playful pony; also, Mims Kate Cooke on her milk white Arab steed. To conclude with a Grand Equestrian Comic Pantomime, ctll.d ARL F.QCIN AND ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON, or the Seven Champions of Christendom. ►e.,c-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Sir. 07. Cooke. inn. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tata DAY—Morn. 33 min. aft. 6—Evening 57 min. aft. li Tn-Monnow—Morn. 22 min. aft. 7 —Evening 50 milt. aft. 7 THE WEATHER-SUN OFFICE, JAN. 13. THERMOSEETER, IN THE SHADE. 31—highest since noon yesterday. 32—!nwest this morning and during the night. 37—this day at noon. BAROKETER, 3012- the highest for a year. WIMP, N. to N.N.E.—Light, with very fine frosty wea t her and sunshine. JANUAPY 14. 39—highest since noon yesterday. 33—lowest this morning and during the night. 37 —this day at noon. BAROMJETZR, 30.28—a sudden fall of nearly half an inch. Wisp, E.S. E.—Fresh, with fine, frosty, cold, sunshiny, clear weather. 44 , j4 , 0 " IP- 4 : - ", : eA"‘ § 4 / 4 4, .(t, , )_ LONDON, MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 1356. It is positively stated that the reply from Russia, transmitted through Count STACKELBERG, to the Austrian Propositions is of an evasive character, probably intended to lead to new and protracted negotiations. She does not, it is said, altogether reject the conditions offered, but there are portions thereof to which she has given a de cided negative. The first point objected to re• lates to the rectificatio❑ of her frontier with Tur key in Europe, by which she should surrender a portion of her Bessarabian territory, commencing in the vicinity of Chotym, and following the line of mountains which extend in a south-easterly direction, and concluding at Lake Sasik. The territory thus ceded would, of course, form a por tion of the Danubian Principalities, now occupied by Austria, and respecting which new questions may be ventilated before the troops of FRANCIS JOBRP/I evacuate the position in which they have hitherto exercised despotic power, ruling with a rod of iron. Not even to conciliate Austria, how- ever, will Russiayield the slightest portion of her for mer acquisitions, no matter howreeently or unfairly obtained. Although she nominally assents to the freedom of the Danube and its mouths, she seems resolved to maintain her place as one of the riveraine, or river-bordering states, so that she may always retain a pretext for interference. It is almost unnecessary to say how completely the value of the paper conditions would be neutralised if such were the case, and that no " material guarantee" were given for ,their observance. In the obstinate refusal to remove the probable, in deed we may say the almost certain, cause of future complications, the obstinate and 'perverse adhesion of Russia to the traditional policy may be discerned. It is manifest that she has not yet profited sufficiently by the painful lesson so sharply administered in the Crimea and at Kin burn ; and it is, therefore, doubly incumbent on the Allies not to abate the slightest particle of the far too moderate demands put forward through the agency of Austria. She has also, it is said, rejected the additional or sth Article, which was added to the Proposi tions ac the suggestion of the Western Powers, and under which a stipulation against the recon truction of Bomarsund, or threatening demon strations against the Scandinavian Powers, would b e added to the compact. This is also significant. It proves that, notwithstanding the Treaty s o recently effected w i th Sweden, Russia still intends to maintain a menacing atti tude against her nearest neighbours on the Baltic seaboard—a state of affairs that would render any settlement that might be effected of a merely temporary character, and lead to a speedy re newal, of hostilities, under far less favourable terms for the Maritime Power.% If Austria be true to the professions and promises she has made this refusal must completely break up the arrangement. Russia must have well known that France and England could not possibly have ac ceded .to any teams which' left the Boluarstthil question in abeyance. The concession of the wa i n points in which Austria is interested, while there. is a peremptory refusal to accede to the very moderate and reasonable requests relating to the Baltic side, can only be regarded as an artful attempt to detach Austria from the side of the , Western Powers by playing on her selfish pro pensities, so well known to be her weak side. It is asserted that with these exceptions the rest of the ultimatum has been accepted, some slight modifications being introduced in the stipu lations respecting the neutralisation of the Black Sea. Russia is also willing to restore to Turkey Kars and the territory she has won in Asia during the last campaign ; but in return she expects to receive back the strong places and territories now occupied by the Allies. That is to say, Sebastopol is to be given back to Russia, ready to be again converted at a brief notice into " a standing menace " to Constantinople and Europe. Kin bourn, too, the entrance to Nicolaieff, and Kher son, should also be surrendered ; so that Russia could, without infringing any of the conditions, construct a formidable war navy, ready to enter at any moment the commercial Euxine, where it would be completely irresistible in conse quence of the absence of any competing force. Eupatoria and Kertch, the entrance to the Sea of Azoff, should also be yielded up ; and, for all these important concessions, Kars is considered an ample equivalent ! Verily, modesty does not ap pear to be a weakness that can fairly be imputed to the CZAR or his advisers. Now, then, will Austria act under this virtual rejection of her proposals It is said that she will remain true to her present engagements, and will not receive the counter propositions. Nous venom ! Time will tell. But we must con fess that we cannot believe that Austria will, under any possible combinetd.ln of circumstances, adopt a manly or straightforward course, or join heart in hand in the noble cause in which the Allies have for some time been engaged. She may withdraw her ambassador from St. Petersburg, but that is very different from drawing the sword and co-operating zealously and energetically with the opponents of Russia. We have seen teo much of her dedgery and duplicity to suppose that she will, even at the eleventh hour, change her traditional course and adopt a generous and manly policy. Let not the Allied Governments then abate a single effort or a single precaution in the futile expectation either of a permanent and honourable peace, or of Austrian co-operation. Should they do so, they will only deceive themselves. Their motto in dealing with Russia and Austria shDuld be " blessed are they who expect little, for they shall not be disappointed." It is striking to notice the reluctance of Eng lishmen to blame their Admirals. Unlike the fickle and exacting Republicans, who anticipated our naval exploits in the waters of the Egean, aad who " cut off the heads of some to en courage the others," and went no doubt to a cruel extreme, we seem reluctant, on the other hand, to wound even the feelings of the Admirals who have disappointed us. It may be questioned, indeed, whether a word of direct censure would have been heard had not Sir CHAS. NAPIER'S pen been so much more active than his sword. Perhaps our navy has so long been our idol that we unwil lingly admit it can have failed. We may be secretly willing rather to believe that Baltic fortresses are impregnable to marine assaults than to suppose that our NELSONS and RODNEYS have left no sue. cessors. Unluckily, however, Puseyisin in prac tical matters like the command of a fleet is an impossibility. Successors of the Apostles, endued with all the powers of Apostles, may be created by the magic touch Episcopal, albeit they may want every visible mark of apostolicity. Their humble docks can believe their power to regenerate and par don us poor sinners, and the faith, says the priest, is enough. The Admiralty and the QUEEN herself, however, cannot emulate the Episcopate. The official successors of our historical Admirals have indeed been numerous enough. The Admiralty and the Government of the day have duly eonse crated them to the service of England's naval honour, but the magic powers are wanting. Official holin?ss will do for those who can believe in it ; but office in the navy is not believed to confer naval genius. Works are required of Admirals, and it is useless to appeal to faith. We who pay the 20,000,0001. recognise successors of DRAKE and NELSON in those only who do the work of DRAKE and NELSON. Like the mass of ourcountrymen, however, we are slow to enter into the question of our Baltic cam paigns ; the deeds of our favourite Admirals were certainly not done there. The first went out, with hopes on the part of some of us, that his very name would frighten Russia into a peace. Her ships, no doubt, did fly like mice from the cat, where it WAS no easy task to reach them ; but except the episode of the semi-military business of Bomarsund, not a single naval feat in the Baltic added during 1854 to the fame of the British Navy. The nation was, no doubt, very much disappointed. It seemed inclined, notwithstanding, to lay the fault any where rather than ou an Admiral ; nor can we resist the conviction that the ability of Sir JAMES GRAHAM could, had he wished, have provided a very different armament for his Commander in the Baltic. One thing is certain, that between the Admiralty and the Admiral the hopes of the country came to the ground, and it must be owned that they bore the heavy fall with won derful elasticity. It was universally expected that 1855 would show the difference between WOOD and DIINDAS, and their predecessors, GRAHAM and NAPIER. There were two differences. A much larger and more costly fleet, with some mortar-boats on the one hand, and that between the affairs of Bomar sund and Sweaborg on the other. Both expedi tions kept our owu shores in safety, and almost destroyed the marine commerce of Russia ; but one destroyed a great outwork of Russian ambi tion, and captured 2,000 priso3ers the other destroyed all that was inflammable of a more important port, leaving it, however, to become much stronger by next spring ; it certainly does not appear as if the far more costly expeditionof 1855 effected so much as that of 1854. Both, however, have done next to no thing compared with their cost ; had we merely kept guard at the Sound, and nothing more, it might have paid better, especially if we had in consequence done our naval work more thoroughly in the Black Sea. We do not wish to enter into the debates between Sir CHARLES NAPIER and the Times, or to decide between the views of nume rous correspondents of the Press. One thing, however, must be confessed by all impar tial observers, that the naval genius for the occa sion has not yet appeared. The courage and I the skill, too, in details of service of our naval 1 commanders and seamen must be undoubted. The IRussians, a t l east, dare not meet them, even when allured by inferior numbers. But the one thing has been quite wanting. Who will believo that, one of our great Admirals of former wars would have sailed about the Baltic with two such fleets for two summers and have done, or attempted no more ? Genius displays itself most in novel conditions. Where routine bravery and routine perceptions fail, the divining glance of native genius perceives and plans what is hidden _ to good but ordinary vision. To us it seems in credible that there should not be in our navy younger and unpromoted men who could teach their official superiors a lesson—men who would find the way up to St. Petersburg, and who with the materiel ready for next spring would lay in ruins every Russian fortification in the Baltic. Profoundly interested as the public are in the inquiry at Rugeley into the alleged " poisoning cases," and deeply concerned in the exposure and prevention of the foul practice of poison ing, there is another inquiry at Rugeloy, aris ing out of the first, in which the public may be expected to feel almost as profOund an interest —an inquiry directed to the exposure, and we trust the prevention, of a practice, certainly less foul, but which, if left unchecked, is likely to be at tended by consequences of a nature so mischievous and injurious as to warrant the deepest anxiety and concern on the part of the community. The practice to which we refer is that of letter opening, and the circumstances which have called attention to it are as follows :—While the inquiry into the " poisoning cases " was pending, Mr. GARDINER, the solicitor to the prosecution, wrote to Dr. TAYLOR, to whom the analysis in the case of the unfortunate Mr. COOK was entrusted, narrating certain discoveries calcu lated to further his undertaking, and requesting him, in case he found decided traces of poison, to inform him (Mr. GARDENER) at once of the fact, as he feared every hour's delay in apprehending the party suspected would he, detrimental to the ends of justice. With this request Dr. TAYLOR very properly complied, and within two days wrote a letter to Mr. GARDENER, stating that no traces of strychnine, prussic acid, or opium, with one or other of which drugs it was suspected Mr. COOK was poisoned, had been detected, and also offering sundry suggestions. This letter was placed in an envelope, securely fastened, and posted by Dr. TAYLOR himself, so that there can be no quest'on, we should imagine, of its having been posted in a proper condition. The accused party became acquainted with its contents about the same time as the gentleman to whom it was di rected, as was proved by PALMBR referring to them in a letter to the Coroner. How came it to pass that a confidential communication in the interest of justice should have thus been perverted into an instrument in the hands of the accused for the defeat of justice ? Somebody must have played the traitor. Who was it? Suspicion fastened on Mr. CHESHIRE, the Postmaster-General at Rugeley, and on Mr. GARDENER demanding to be informed " how PALMER knew the contents of his letter from Dr. TAYLOR ?" CHESHIRE, who, it would appear, had been a sort of " chum" of PALMER'S in racing matters, replied, "It (the letter) was lying open upon the table. I looked at it and saw there was no poison found. I was so elated that I read that part of the letter, and told it to Mr. PALMER"— adding, "It is the only thing that I have done that is wrong throughout the whole business," and subsequently inquiring " what could he done to him for what ho had done ?" The reader has now the gist of the affair before him, and we should imagine will have little difficulty in corning to the conclusion that the envelope was broken open, designedly broken open, at the Post-office. What the precise culpability of CHESHIRE is we do not undertake to say. He may have had no desire to defeat the ends of justice, and, believ ing PALMER. an innocent man, may have only felt a natural elation on discovering that no criininating evidence had been elicited by the analysis. Into this part of the affair we have no intention just now to enter. This much seems certain : lie violated his trust in a twofold man ner, by breaking open a letter--a most important and confidential letter—and by communicating its contents to another, and that other the very individual from whose knowledge it was desirable they should be kept. Is this sort of thing of fre quent occurrence, and what sort of assurance can be held out to the corresponding public that their letters shall be held inviolate ? Those are in quiries which everybody will feel disposed to make, and which should have a prompt reply. No Administration, it may be, can be so securely guarded that knavery shall not find its way into it ; but giving the Post-office the full benefit of the admission, what care is taken that if knavery enters the Post-office it shall not long remain there undetected ? The public are deeply concerned to know this, for the consequences of a practice like CHESHIRE'S, extensively or fre quently followed, may be positively frightful. Brave men have perished on the scaffold before now by means of letter opening, and there is no business in life that it may not be prejudicially employed in. CHESHIRE was found out by sheer accident ; the authorities of the Post-office can take no credit for the discovery. Had PALMER not betrayed his knowledge of the contents of the letter in question, the Rugeley Postmaster night, to all appearance, have gone on opening other letters for his friends' use and other uses, none of which it is likely would have been good without much risk of detection. Mr. GAR DENER does not appear to have detected on the envelope itself the least traces of its having been tampered with. Is it impossible for the autho rities to do more than they have already done for the protection of the public, and does all that re mains to be done rest with the latter ? Can the Post-office authorities adopt no further measures than to warn the public against the use of un sealed envelopes ? We are desirous rather of satisfactory assurances at their hands for the --- future than to convict then of negligence in the past. THE Su N LONDON, MO"NTDAY __EVENING. JANUARY l4, 18 5 6 DEATII OF THE RIGHT Flf;,\ l . HEARY GOULBURV, M.P. We regret to announce the demise of the Right Hon. Henry Goulburn, M.P. for the University of Cam bridge. The right hon. gentleman expired at three o'clock on Saturday morning, at Beeohworth House, near Dorking, Surrey, after a very short illness. The deceased was eldest son of the late Mr. Manbee Gold burn and the Hon. Susan Chetwynd, daughter of Vis. count Chetwynd. He was born in 1784, so that be was in his 72d year. He was educated at Trinity Col lege, Cambridge, where he graduated M.A. in 1808, having the year previous been returned to the House of Commons for the borough of Horsham. In 1811, just after his entrance upon official life, he married the lion. Jane Montagu, third daughter of Matthew, 4th Lord Rokeby, and sister of the gallant peer now with the army in the Crimea. The righthon. gentleman mae made Under• Secretary of State for the Home Department i❑ Feb. 1810, under the Duke of Portland's Ministry, and under the administration of his grace's successor, the unfortunate Spencer Perceval. At the general elec tion in 1812 he was elected for St. Germains, and re presented that now disfranchised borough up to 1818, having in 1812 been appointed by Lord Liverpool Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, an office he held up to 1821. In 181$ he was returned to the House of Commons for West Looe, and sat for Armagh from 1826 to 1831. Mr. Goulburn accepted the post of Chief Secretary for Ireland in December, 1821, and was then made a privy councillor. He filled that office under the several administrations of the Earl of Liverpool, Vis count Goderich, the Right Hon. George Canning, and the Duke of Wellington, when, in March, 1828, the illustrious Duke selected him to fill the important office of Chancellor of the Exchequer, and he thus be came a member of the Cabinet, at the head of the financial department of the state, until the Duke of Wellington retired in January, 1830, to make way for Earl Grey. At the general election, 1831, the mem bers of the University of Cambridge were discon tented with the Earl of Burlington (then Lord Caven dish) and Viscount Palmerston for their advocacy of the Reform Bill, and Mr. Goulburn, who unsuccessfully contested the University in 1826, and the Right Hon. Wm. Yates Peel, started in opposition, and after a severe contest ousted the former noble members. Since then the right hon. gentleman has continued to repre sent that university in Parliament. On the formation of Sir R. Peel's first ministry, in 1834, Mr. Goulburn was appointed Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment, which he held till the Administration broke up in April following. When Sir Robert was again called upon in September, 1841, to take office, that astute statesman selected Mr. Goulburn for his Chancellor of the Exchequer. Since he retired with the late Sir R. Peel, in the summer of 1846, the right hon. gentleman has taken no very active part in politics, but has always supported those measures he deemed necessary to fully carry out the ♦iews of his distinguished friend on the policy of free trade. The late Sir Robert Peel appointed him one of his executors (Viscount Hardinge being the other). The deceased gentleman, in 1839, was proposed for the office of Speaker of the House of Commons, supported by the Conservative party, but Mr. Shaw Lefevre, the present Speaker, gained the election, there being for Mr. Goulburn 299 votes, and for Mr. Lefevre 317. The deceased enjoyed the annual pension of 2,0001. By his unexpected death a vacancy is caused in the House of Common for Cambridge University. COVENT-GARDE.V THEATRE. 01: Saturday the Great Wizard gave thaJast.- repre sentation of his magic entertainment, which has main tained an unimpaired popularity throughout a run of 130 nights. This evening Mr. Anderson wilt solicit the suffrages of the public in the capacity of actor, making his appearance as the redoubted Scottish freebooter, in the drama of Rob Roy. In Scotland and America his delineation of this celebrated character has been pro. nouaced eminently successful, and we look forward to the confirmation of the favourable verdict by a London audience to-night. Helen M'Gregor will be impersoiated by Mrs, J. Wallack ; Mr. Gonrlay, well known to the Edinburgh and Glasgow audiences, will fill the part of the Bailie, in which he is said to display very high talent ; Mr. Harry Pearson, who makes so admirable a b ur l esque Henry the Eighthl is the pantomime, is to represent the Dougal ; Mr. George Perrin will sustain the part of Frank Osbaldistou, Mr. Stuart that of Rashleigh, and Mr. Sam. Cowell, the wide. famed comic singer, that of Major Galbraith. Diana Vernon will be undertaken by Miss Harriet Gordon. Great preparations have been made to produce this popular piece on a scale befitting such a theatre as Covent Garden, and we anticipate an additional triumph for Mr. Anderson, both as manager and actor, in the perform• ance of Rob Roy. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary visited the Cambridge Asylum for Soldiers' Widows at Kingston, on Friday, and gra ciously_presented to each of the inmates a sum of money to buy coals, together with a pair of mittens, which de rive a ddi t i ona l va l ue i n the estimation of the recipients from the fact of their having been worked by their Royal Highnesses. The Earl of Cardigan is continning to dispense his hospitality to a distinguished circle of friends. The Earl and Countess of Jersey and Lady Clementina Villiers are expected to arrive at Deane Park to-day. The Earl and Countess of Harewood are still at Hare wood House, surrounded by a large family party. die. count Lascell es i s expected in town this morning. Viscount Palmerston left town on Saturday, for his seat, Broadlands, Hants. Sir Charles Wood also left town on Saturday, on a visit.to the noble viscount. MINISTERIAL MOVE dENTS. The Earl of Clarendon was prevented from attending the Cabinet Council on Friday, by the serious illness of a near relative. The noble earl remains at the Grove, near Watford. The Chancellor of the Exchequer was also precluded from attending the Cabinet Council by illness in tho The Right Hon. H. Labouchere has left town, for Stoke-park, near Windsor. Tie right hon. gentleman and Lady Mary come to town for the season the week after next. The Right Hen. Robt. Vernon Smith, M.P., left town after the Cabinet Council on Friday, for his seat, Farm ing Woods, Northamptonshire. Viscount Palmerston has returned to Broadlands. The noble Premier and Lady Palmerston will come to town next week. Sir George Grey is rapidly recovering from his recen' accident. Viscount Villiers comes to town to-day, from the Earl Craven's seat, Ashdown P.lrk. The viscountess will be in town on Wednesday, to attend Sir Robert Peel'd marriage with the Lady Emily Hay on the following day. Lord Panmure, Secretary of State for War, has been suffering for some days past from an attack of gout. The attack is a very severe one, which has affected the right hand. A conference would have been held at the War Department on Friday in the middle of the day, of a committee of the Cabinet Ministers, to meet some of the principal naval and miliary authorities, but the ill ness of the Secretary of State for War caused the meet ing to be postponed. The attack also prevented his lordship from attending the Cabinet Council of Friday. Despatches for the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope were sent on Saturday from the Colonial-offine. Mr. Gladstone will lead the peace party in the House of Commons nest session. Mr. Webster intends rebuilding the Adelphi Theatre on an enlarged scale daring the summer recess. Dr. Bruno Bauer, formerly of the University of Ber lin, has left Prussia, and taken up his abode in London. The Duke of Cambridge visited the Italian Theatre, Paris, on Thursday evening. His Royal Highness was in the Emperor's box. General Cannon (Behram Pacha) has arrived in town from Circassia. The Emigration Commissioners have advertised for a ♦essel to proceed to Melbourne, to be ready for pas sengers between the 25th of February and the 31 of March next. The Council of the Royal Society have appointed the Bishop of Oxford as Fairchild Lecturer for the present year. SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER-HALL.—Mr. Sims Reeves sings in " JU , las Ma,ceaheus," which is to be given by the above society on Friday, the 25t h inst. TFIE COMMAND OF THE BALTIC FLEET.—It was yester day rumoured at the West-end club-houses that Admi• ral Lushington, late commander of the Naval Brigade in the Crimea, is to command the Baltic .fleet next spring. THE LAND CAMPAIGN IN THE NORTH.—It is stated to be the intention of the Allies to employ 90,000 men, viz.:-50,000 French and 40,000 English, in a land campaign. The latter is to be withdrawn from the Crimea, under the command of Sir Colin Campbell. DEATH OF THE HON. MRS. G. VILLIERS.—We regret to announce the death of the Hon. Mrs. Geo. Villiers, who expired on Saturday night, at the Grove, the seat of her son, the Earl of Clarendon, near Watford, after a few days' illness. SAILING OF THE BALTIC.—The United States mail steam-ship Baltic, Captain Comstock, sailed from Liver pool for New York on Saturday, at half-past one o'clock p.m., with the usual mails, a large cargo, and 72 pas sengers. TESTIMONIAL TO LORD CARDIGAN. —A very handsome sword, richly chased, of the value of about 250 guineas, has been purchased by public subscription in Yorkshire, as a testimonial of admiration to Lord CAI - digan for the gallantry with which he led on the cavalry in the celebrated charge at Balakle.va in October, 1854. THE WEATHER IN THE BALTIC.—HAMBURG, JAN. 10. —Mild weather and a heavy fall of snow. The ice has been blown up as far down as below Nieustadt ; if no frost sets in again, the river will be free, with the ex ception of the floating ice. Temperature last night 1 degree frost, with the wind at N. The War, it appears, has eaten up all the spare bronze. An application to Lord Palmerston for a con tribution of metal for the proposed statue of Newton has been unsuccessful. The matter was referred to Lord Panmure and the Ordr.ance Department, and an answer has been received, to the effect that all the bronze in the possession of Government is required for the casting of cannon. THE SHIPPING AT QUEENSTOWN.—For 30 years there have not been so many British ships lying wind-bound and for orders in Queenstown harbour as at present and for nearly a month back. They appear to be jammed up one against the other, from Passage down to Camden Fort. They number over 300, with about 25 foreign ships and 5 men-of-war, manned by over 4,000 seamen, of whom 2,710 are British merchant sailors, 300 foreigners, and 1,600 men-of-war's-men. The N.E. wind, now set in, is slowly mlearing them out.—Cork Reporter. COMIUNICATION BETWEEN G WARD AND DRIVER.— This desideratum in railway trains is secured by a new invention about to be applied on the South-Western Railway. Every train will have a gutta percha tube ex tending its whole length. This tube will be formed of parts which are attached to each other by a spring clip, so that the length of the tube can be made to correspond with the length of any train. This tube is connected with an air pump in the guard's van in front, and the guard's van at the end of the train. By a stroke of this pump the air is forced through the tube to the opposite end of the train, and produces a very loud and shrill whistle at a mouth-piece attached to the tube in each guard's van, and to a mouth-piece which extends also close to the engine -driver. One whistle means " Look out," two whistles signify " Caution," and three whistles denote danger. TTIE LATE CHARGE OF MURDER AT PADDINGTON.— About four months ago a man named Henry Watts, the keeper of a beershop in Praed-street, Paddington, was committed by the sitting magistrate, Mr. Long, from the police-court, Mary!shone, on the charge of having murdered his wife. He was triad, and, bein g found guilty of manslaught er, was sentenced to transportation for 14 year& iubsequently to the trial the principal witness against the accused—Sarah Browning—was tried for perjury in a case which had been preferred by her against the father of Henry Watts for an alleged violent and unprovoked assault upon her. Mr. Handley, managing clerk to Mr. Foley, solicitor, Welbeck-street, and who had conducted the defence, used his utmost exertions to obtain a commutation of the sentence passed by memo rialising the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment, setting forth in as strong and as powerful a man ner as possible that Watts' conviction took place en tirely upon the strength of the statement of. the woman Browning, who had been proved by ulterior proceedings to be almost, if not entirely, unworthy of belief'. On Saturday Mr. Foley received an official notification from the Home-office to the effect that Sir George Grey had taken all the circumstances of the case into considera tion, and that Watts' sentence was commuted from 14 years' transportation to 2 years' imprisonment, the said term of incarceration to commence from the period of hie trial and convictioain September last. LATEST NEWS. THE RUSSIAN REPLY. We (Morning Post) can state with confidence that the Russian reply to the Austrian u/timaticm has been received at Vienna. Russia rejects the secoed clause of the first pro posal, viz., the " rectification of her frontier with Turkey." She also rejects the fifth proposal, by which a right of producing special conditions is reserved to the belligerent Powers, and in virtue of which they would demand the engagement not to re build Boniarsund. Russia accepts the rest of the ultimatum, in cluding the neutralisation of the Black Sea, with some modifications. In exchange for the strong places and territories occupied by the Allies, Russia proposes to restore to the Porte Kars and the territory she has won from Turkey in Asia in the last campaign. We have reason to believe that Austria keeps her faith with us, and will not receive this coun terproposi t ion. Austria, however, gives the Cabinet of St. Petersburg the benefit of the time she had al ready allowed, and therefore Russia has till the 18th inst. to notify to Count Esterhazy her ac ceptance or rejection, without conditions, of the Austrian ultimatum. If Russia refuse, or if, at that date, she has 110' accepted the Austrian ultimatum, " pur et simple," Count Esterhazy has instructions to withdraw from St. Petersburg. MARSEILLES, JAN. 12 The Carmel brings accounts from Constanti nople to the 3d. The campaign of the Turkish army in Imeritia was definitively abandoned, in order to cover Erzeroum. The troops of Omer Paella had begun to arrive at Trebizond. General Mouravieff had called fot reinforce ments from Goumri, and fortified Kars in order to render it the basis of his operations in the ensuing spring. The ground in Armenia was covered with snow. In the Crimea numerous ambuscades of Cos sacks are distributed round the camps of the Allies, but the vigilance of the Allies had com pletely disconcerted the attempts of the Russians. The commission for the cutting of the Isthmus of Suez is arrived at Alexandria on its return from a tour of exploration. The commissioners consider the cutting of the isthmus, from Suez to l'elusia, as easy •f execu tion. The official Persian journal declares that the Government of Persia will maintain its policy of neutrality. COPENHAGEN, JAN. 13, The States Court, formod for the purpose of trying the ex-Ministers, has again adjourned to the 19th inst., to receive fresh documents, which will be brought forward by the promoters of the impeachment. VIENNA, MONDAY MORNING, JA v. 14 The Emperor of Austria displays great firm ness, and insists on the unconditional acceptance of the proposals of which Count Vaientine Ester hazy was the healer. The Independance Bggc publishes the following ;olegraphic despatch : BERLIN, SUNDAY, JAN. 13. It is asserted hero that Count Buol having been made acquainted yesterday with the reply brought by the Russian courier who left St. Pe tersburg on the sch inst., informed Prince Gorts chakoff that the whole of the Austrian Legation would leave St. Petersburg on the 18th inst. THE ARMY IN THE CRIMEA. ( Front the Times correspondent.) CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, Jan. 1. There can hardly be a more perfect example of a sinecure than the office of a newspaper correspon dent in the camp before Sebastopol at this present time. There seems little chance of the Russians meddling with us at present. With the ground in its present state, it would be difficult to move artillery. The men are well clothed, well fed, the quarters are as good as circumstances will per mit, they appear contented, and have every reason to he so. The weather continues frosty, but not so severe as it was. We have haft white frosts the last two nights, and the sky looks very like snow. It is expected that the docks we have mined will he blown up this week, but no day is as yet posi tively fixed. THE ARMY IN THE CAUCASUS. (From the Times Correspondent.) REDOUT-KALEIT, DEc. 20. The terrific storms of the last week have obliged all the steamers to get under way and seek at Batoum that shelter which the open roadstead here does not afford. Thus no opportunity has occurred of send ing letters since my last date. It was not without difficulty that I made my way down here through 25 miles of mud. The army has gone into winter quarters at Choloni, four miles to the rear of Ziewie, where the formation of the country offers great natural advantages of position. Unless the weather improves, the communication between the camp and the coast will be maintained with con siderable difficulty. In order to relieve the trans port service, part of the army has been moved to a village half way between Choloni and Redout- Kaleh, to whioh point there is water carriage by the river Chopi. Omer Pasha has established himself here for the present, and is engaged in completing his winter commissariat arrangements. It will re quire all his highness's power of organisation to meet the exigencies for which he is called upon to provide. . Meanwhile the enemy had not been idle. Finding that it was useless attempting to harass the main body of the army, Prince Gregoire (the brother of the Princess Dadian), at the head of about 500 Georgian and Imeritian militia, sur rounded Sugdidi and, forcing the unfortunate inha bitants of the neighbouring villages to take up arms, under threat of burning down their houses in case of refusal, he led an armed mob into the town in the middle of the night, and surprised an unfor tunate garrison of 180 Turkish soldiers, who had been left there invalided. Three or four of these were killed, and 32 taken prisoners in their beds, before the alarm had thoroughly aroused the remainder. These assembled hastily in the square before the Princess's palace, and not only offered a, stout resistance, but charged their numerous enemy, who crowded the narrow streets, with such determi nation that they killed Goof them, among whom were 8 boys, and utterly routed the whole force ; after which they barricaded themselves in the palace, from which place a messenger was despatched to Omer Pasha, asking for relief, at the same time as suring him they were provisioned and prepared for a long resistance. Gregoire finding it was hopeless to attempt to dislodge these brave men, turned his arms against a Mingrelian Bey wh o h a d t a k en up arms with the Turks, and obliged him to fortify himself with his retainers in his fortress, which crowns a hill-top, in regular feudal style. He, too, has ap plied for assistance, and Sp en d er Pasl ! ia, was sent to the relief of both parties. That enterprising General, getting information of the presence of the enemy within a few miles of the camp, went out to meet them with a regiment of cavalry and a battalion of rifles wader Colonel Ballard ; placing the rifles in ambush he advanced with his cavalry upon Prince Gregoire. Seeing the small force opposed to him the Prince charged the cavalry, which retreated un til the enemy was fairly in the trap, when the order was given to fire, and a storm of Minie bullets chip tied a hundred saddles on the spot ; the remain der precipitately took to their heels. Skender Pacha then proceeded to Sugdidi. This summary chastisement will, doubtless, produce a wholesome effect upon the enemy, but it is more difficult to know how the people of tiae country are to be treated. Their position is most unfortunate. Forced on the one hand by the brother of their Sovereign at the point of the sword to take up arms against the Turks, subject on the other to the immediate vengeance of these (the pre sent possessors of the country) if they are caught with arms, they see no means of escape from the dilemma in which they are placed, and which in volves the destruction of all they hold dear to them. It is most earnestly to be hoped that the policy of Omar Pasha in these difficult circumstances will, during the ensuing winter be such as may Int estrange the inhabitants of the country, but by leniency, tempered with discretion, render them more faithful allies, in anticipation of more ex tended military operations in the coming year. THE FALL OF KARS. The Journal de Constantinople of Jan. 3 con tains the official report of the defence and fall of Kars, published in the Turkish official paper. It is as vague a document as any ever written by a Turkish Kiatib ; if it is to be believed it must be Kismet (fate) and (under its auspices) the Allied Powers to whom the fall of Kars is to be at tributed. After paying a well-earned tribute to the bravery of the garrison, this document says, " un fortnnately, bravery alone was not sufficient, and as the place was invested, it was not possible to throw in provisions." Then it pretends to give a short resume of the siege, and exposes all the good intentions which were entertained for the relief of Kars. How, as soon as the Porte heard of the state of the garrison, it took immediate measures to send reinforcements and mate rial to Erzeroum, and how it ordered the diversion by Batoum as the most effectual means to attract the farces of the enemy, and relieve the town. " Such," the document proceeds,— "Were at least the dispositions taken by the Councils of War held at Constantinople. Unfortunately the views of the Turkish Government could not be carried out, the Imperial troops being encamped around Se bastopol, and the great events which have signalized the last period of the campaign, which ended in the fall of Sebastopol, having not yet taken place, it was impos- Bible for us to send our forces from there to Asia. On the other hand, in order not to diminish the political importance of our presence on the Danube, we could not take troops from the army in the interior. Thus the time passed until the Sirdar Ekrem (Omer Pasha) went in all hate in the direction of Georgia, at the Fame time that Selim Pasha was sent to organise a reserve in Erzeroum." The document describes then the good effect pro duced by the disembarking of troops at Batoum, me nacing, the rear of the Russians—namely, by in ducing them to attack the place—and it attributes to the knowledge ihe Russians had of the famine prevailing in Kars that they did not abandon the place after their defeat. - Then comes a curious paragraph : " During this time, in consequence of unfore'een circumstances, which it was imposs:ble to control, the concentration at Batourn was retarded, and the ope rations destined to save Kars were drawn to such a length that the garrison cou;d no more count on this means of relief." AMERICA. THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. LIVERPOOL, MONDAY MORNING. The Royal mail steamer Asia has arrived, with advices from Boston to the 2d inst. President Pierce, notwithstanding the non elec tion of the Speaker, presented his Annual Message to Congress on the 31st ult. 'We gather the fol lowing summary from the Hew York Courier and Enquirer of the Ist inst : " That part of the Message which was looked for with the greatest interest was that which touched upon our foreign relations. It was anticipated that our difficulties with England would not be treated in a very assuring tone —nor are they. The British con struction of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty is pro nounced inadmissible, and the determination is ex pressed to insist upon the rights of the United States. It is stated that negotiations are not yet at an end, and yet little encouragement is held out that they will produce a satisfactory solution, and we are told that the question cannot mush longer continue open without seriously endangering the friendly relation of the two countries. So far as regards the view of oar Government that tinder the trcaty the British have no right in Gentr4l America, except at Belize, we appre heed there be no difference of opinion among the American people, but we believe it morally certain that England will never follow her pretensions to arbitrament of the sword. The battle will not be suffered to leave diplomatic ground, and it will probably not be determined there before the internal civil and commercial changes of that part of the conti nent will have superseded and made obsolete every ma terial point in dispute. "In regard to the difference with England arising out of her violation of our neutrality laws, by the attempt to raise recruits within our borders, the President presents no definiti►e view of the case. He bas demanded of the British Government not only a cessation of the wrong but its reparation, yet nothing specific is disclosed con cerning the chazacter of the reparation demanded or the disposition of the Engli-h Government to make it. The subject is yet under discussion. "In reference to the Sound Dues at Denmark it is stated that the invitation to our Government to go into a convention with the representatives of all European States, for the capitalisatio❑ of the dues, has been de clined, though a willingness is expressed to compensate Denmark for all of her outlay in improving the naviga tion of the Sound or Belts. "Our difficulties with France, Spain, and Greece are all pronounced settled or nearly settled," In the House of Representatives on the 31st ult., after a fierce debate and much squabbling about Parliamentary rules, it was decided by a vote of 126 against 87 that the Message should not be read until the House was organised. FRANCE PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING. A third council of war is to take place to-morrow. On Tuesday a grand review will take place of the Army of the Crimea, on which occasion the English medals will be distributed. On Wednesday Prince Jerome will give a grand dinner to the members of the Council of War ; and on Thursday the Minister of War will receive the same distinguished party, whom he has also invited to dinner. Last night Lady Cowley gave a children's ball at the British Embassy. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, all the members of the War Council, including General La Alarmora, were present, together with M. Walewski, and a dis tinguished though limited circle of French and English, who had received invitations. Baron de Seebach is expected in Paris to-mor row. It is .understood that this diplomatist will seek to influence the French Government in taking ' into consideration the Russian reply to the peace propositions. Despatches from Sweden say that great activity is observable in the army and navy, and should Sweden be called upon to join the Allies in any offensive operations, that power will bo found fully prepared by the spring. The approaching marriage is announced of Prince Gabrielli with the Princess Charlotte Bonaparte. The following telegraphic despatch has been re ceived here to-day : BERLIN, 12th, Evening.—" M. do Seebach passed through this city to•day, on his return from St. Petersburg to Paris. It is said that he is au thorised by the Russian Cabinet to continue the negotiations at Paris. Colonel de Manteuffel is expected the day after to-morrow from Vienna." BOURSE, Jan. 12, Two o'clock.—The Rente con tinues to decline, and it is probable that inscrip tions will be transferred at the end of the month. It is reported that M. de Seebach is on his road to Paris with an unfavourable answer of the Czar. The 3 per Cents. declined from 62f. 50c. to 61f. 60c. Mobilier and Railway Shares have also de clined rather heavily. Half-past Three.—Prices cpntinned to decline to nearly the close when they rallied a little. The following are the last quotations : Cash. fr. e. End of Month 43 per Cents 9O —f. -c. 3 per Cents 6l 60 61 75 New Loan 62 50 Bank Shares 3135 Roman Credit Mobilier 1 i 60 ---Austrian Belgian rives. 914 Spanish Threes._ - Piedmontese RAILWAYS —roII CASH C. Organs ........... 10J0 Western 715 _ Northern 835 - Strasburg . 845 Ly0n5,.......... 10,59 New Ditto..... Mediterranean ...... 1 9 00 Grand Central 535 Lyons Geneva ...... 652 50 Teste 577 50 COtte .................. 635 Austrian C0rn....... 691 -.:5 THE WAR IN ASIA. A letter from Vienna says :—" I learn from Varna, 27th ult., that the last Turkish division of the Crimea, commanded by Ruston Pacha, bad been embarked, to join in Asia the division of Suleiman Pacha, which lately left Eup;Atoria, for Trebizond. The news from Asia is unfavourable. All the Circassian chiefs who had gone to the camp of Omer Paella with the intention of joining him in ca,e of success, have disappeared from Sugdidi, and the princes and gentlemen of Alingrelia, who also awaited the issue of the conflict before declar ing theni.elves, have sought refuge at Kutais. General Mouravieff has sent au officer of his staff to the Shah of Persia, to announce to him the sur render of Kars." RUSSIA. A letter from St. Petersburg, of the 2d instant, in the Patric, says :—" One of the points of the empire, which, it has appeared to the Russian Government, will be particularly open to the at tacks of the allied fleets in the next campaign will be Archangel, the principal Russian establishment in the White Sea. The Council of War, during its recent deliberations, decided on having a sup plementary line of defences constructed, and several batteries erected and mounted with guns of the very longest range. Orders have been given for conveying over the snow i n s l e d ges , to Archangel, 42 pieces of artillery of large calibre, and owners of those vehicles have been called on to send in tenders for the transport both of these guns and of a variety of warlike stores. Three battalions of militia, raised in the western governments, are also to be sent to the same destination, as well as some hundreds of Cos sacks, in order to reinforce the present garrison. Tho bar of Archangel is also to be rendered imprac ticable for heavy vessels of war, so that no body of troops or sailors can be able to approach the town except by effecting a landing on some part of the coast. The garrison of St. Petersburg is shortly to be reinforced by some battalions of the reserve of the guard. It is the intention of the Go vernment to bring a large body of the militia into service at the commencement of the spring. It is expectei that 10,000 of them will be sta tioned on the banks of the Neva, between the capital and Cronstadt. General Count Rudiger, who commands in the capital, is in great favour with the Emperor and with the Grand Duke Con stantine, the chief of the old Muscovite or war party." Accounts from St. Petersburg announce that the Princess Alexandrine of Oldenburg embraced the Greco-Russian faith on the 6th. The marriage of the Princess with the Grand Duke Nicholas was celebrated on the 7th, with great ceremony. There was a grand gala at the Court, in presence of the Imperial family. PRUSSIA. The Danube of Vienna publishes the following, under date of Berlin, Jab. 9 : " It has been frequently stated that the relations of the Prussian Cabinet with that of the Tuileries were much more satisfactory than those which it keeps up with the Cabinet of St. James's. A fact which occurred lately proves that the relations of Prussia with England are not what might be wished. It appears that the Earl of Claren dm, at an interview which Count de Bernstorff, the Prussian Ambassador at London, had with him, com plained of the conduct pursued by Prussia in the Eastern question. The Earl expressed himself very unequivocally a. to the pretended neutrality of Prussia ; he complained that that power continued to supply Russia with large quntitles of warlike stores, and that the Prussian Govern ment, by tolerating such conduct, gave aweistaace to the enemy of France and England. The Earl also expressed his surprise that superior officers of the Prussian army should have been present at the fete organised by the Russian Ambassador to celebrate the surrender of Kars ; and that the name of Kars should have been used at a review at Berlin as a mot d'ordre, as if the victory gainer' by the Russians was glorious for the arms of Prussia. 'lf England,' continued his Lordship, does not see in all these facts go many demon strations in favour of Russia, she cannot avoid remarking the carelessness with which Prussia maintains her moral c.)-operation. England will therefore find herself compelled to adopt serious and even hostile measures, if the Cabinet of Berlin does not change its attitude.' The Prussian Ambassador addressed a confidential despatch to his Go vernment, in which he related in detail the result of his interview. This despatch arrived at Berlin at the mo ment when M. do Manteuffel was in Lusatia, and he re turned to Berlin the instant he was informed of the re ceipt of it. A council of Ministers was assembled, under the presidency of the King, and the communications made by the Earl of Clarendon to the Prussian Ambas sador were the subject of a long discussion. Although the declarations of England have produced a very deep impression here, it does not appear that Prussia makes any attempt to put an end to the acts of which the English Minister complains. It is therefore considered very possible that the Pressian ports in the Baltic will be put in a state of blockade. The report theta French army might be concentrated on the Rhine has produced a very great sensation; and it was at one time in contemplation to interdict in Prussia the circulation of the Augsburg Gasertto, which was the first to publish the statement. It is known here, from a good source, that Sweden is making prepa rations for taking part in the great events of which the Baltic will be the theatre rtxt spring'. The armaments 01 and 2 , 7.... my are being pusboki on very vigor ously." GREECE. The last accounts from Athens are to the 3d. A decree, countersigned by M. Chriskopulo, orders the construction of a church and the organisation of charitable establishments. Greece will remain strictly neutral. The relations with the Western Powers are excellent. Tranquillity is general. The Post Ampt Gazette of Frankfort states that, in consequence of the annual levy which will take place in Austria in March next, the Imperial army will be increased by 90,000 men. The Piemonte of Turin gives a list of the Sar dinian vessels of war destined to co-operate with the allied fleets in the Black Sea. it comprises three steam frigates, eight smaller war steamers, three sailing frigates, a brig, a corvette, and a brigantine. TEf E TRADE OF &J UT fir S PAMFORDSHIR N. BIRMINGHAM", Saturday Evening.--The principal fea ture of the week, in connection with the trade of this di4trict, has been the quarterly meetings of the iron and coal masters, which have been held in this town, Wol verhampton, Walsall, Stourbridge, and Dudley. The tone of the meetings was such as indicates a sound state of trade, and the absence of that excitement which for merly characterised some of eur meetings, when prices were recklessly quoted, which could not be maintained. At the meeting held here at Dee's Royal Hotel, on Thursday, the attendance was numerous, large orders for the foreign and home market, were reported, the prices of the preliminary meeting well sustained, and the accounts for the past quarter well met. During the past year there has been a thorough clearance, through the Bankruptcy Court, of the artificial capitalists and uudersellers in the iron trade of South Staffordshire, and the transactions of the past quarter ha►e, conse quently, been of an unusually healthy character. It is not, perhaps, too much to say, that one million's worth of mining property has changed hands within the last twelve months in this and adjoining county, with no small injury to many, and total commercial ruin and bankruptcy to some. The consequence has been increased caution in dealing, and I believe, so cer tain have been the crea►t transac:t►ons of the past quarter, that there have been very few difficulties experienced in the settlement of accounts. It was reported at the meetings that some large how's are in possession of orders for iron, which will consume the product of not only the furnaces in blast, but others which it is in tended to blow in immediately. Oa the article of pig it on it is sought to obtain an advance, which cannot be upheld throughout the quarter. The agents of Lord Ward have issued circulars, announcing the price of beat cold blast pigs at 51. 12s. 6d., and second quality at 41. 15s. It is generally believed, however, that these prices cannot be upheld throughout the quarter, and, most certainly, it is not the intention of the principal makers to follow his lordship's circular. The high price of fuel, rate of wages, and interest paid for cash to carry on the works, will not enable the manufacturers to realise such an advance, and it is considered impolitic to try to en force it. There must always be something like fair pro portions between pigs and bars, if all parties are to live and let live. At the meeting held this evening at Dudley the prices were fully confirmed ; for bars, 9/. ; hoops, 101. ; and sheets, 11/. The attendance of buyers was large, and some useful sales were effected at the above quotations. There is therefore no immediate prospect of the iron trade of this district undergoing any change during the quarter, unless some untoward event—such as that of another twist of the Bank bcrew—shall blow out some of the furnaces. In the coal trade the utmost activity continues, and the demand is now °edam] to be increased by the severe frost w hi c h ya. set in, and threatens to continue. There bas not been, however, any advance, nor can the manufac turers submit to a further rise, the puce now required 'nun them being double what it was a few years ago. The price of home coal is also stationary, and without any prospect of an advance. Best coal went up 6d. a fortnight ago, and with that the mine owners express themselves satisfied. In the metal market there is much dissatisfaction ex pressed at the high p r ice of tin, which is seriously affecting the small manufacturers. In the t:in --- platetrade there is increased animation, and the prices are quoted at from 345. to 35 , i. per hot. This branch has hitherto been very much depressed, but now said to be rapidly reviving. Relative to the gen era l trade of this town, there is lit t l e t o repor t th is week. In the steel pen trade the orders are very limited, and prices not quite firm. The glass trade is yet dull, and the jewellery trade also participates in the depression. In the brass cock trade there are some brisk orders on the books, and the hands are well employed. Superior chasers and casters will find work at the large manufac tories, and persons capable of taking part in the prepa tion of stained glass are also in requisition. In the military gun trade the demand for bands con tinues, and shot and shell casters are also required. In the general hardware trade the demand is very limited. The travellers, however, are nov' out, and we shall soon have to report the result of their labours. Money is still scarce, and the pressure upon the manufacturers very considerable. ml The with a busine extent At Bc money the ra Wz 801 teriouE sorb al shipin ( not lik ence al market ever, c Was fir The weathe quantii ward. date w, The iu an W& to has be( matter particu paned 1855, passed 7,509 i 15 ,193, corresp 1854 , ] 19,906. The Share 1 Week ei the 3 p 'cat., ; shares Week— elined Shares ran eanE Ace° Way of Which s left Liv h October The ac arrived terly, t thing deeirab meet tl tile eon cation Ther Securit import; Czar's 3 opened for m ol ential !market profit ; the pre for the 3 5. dis ( quiet India The Stock s Portu Cents. Spanis 1 ; dit To. Share tuade : count, Bo hea Weate Prices, Zia' ai In ] ties, Value: Bari 3 pee( }t ow por Long Ditto Ditt India ; %Yawl Exe PRIG Peruvi Russia Dal DUI Turk' : Dit bitl Dal Dutch Sn resit of yi