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

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN.—Under the Management of Miss Louisa ryne and Mr. W. Harrison, Sole Lessees.• The great Pantomime of BLUE BEA RD, universally pronounced to be the hit of the sea s o n. Never sur p assed for Magnificence of Scenery, Costumes, Decorations, Dances, Processions, and surpassing beauty of the Fairy Transforma tion Scene. Commence at Seven. Doors open at Half-past Six. Ti( IS EVENING and during the week, THE MARRIAGE OF GEORGETTE : Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. 11. Corri. Conductor, Mr. Allred Mellon. After which, the Grand Oriental Pantomine of BLUE BEARD. The opening writ ten by J. V. Bridgman, Esq. Supported by a combination of talent unequalled in the annals of pantomimic art. Mr. W. B. Payne, Harry Boleno, 'Henry Payne, Hildyard, Fred. Payne, Tanner, J. Barnes, the Zelinskis, Miss Clara Morgan, and Mdme. Boleno. The Pantomime produced by Mr. Edward Stirling. The MORNING PERFORMANCES each week, WED NESDAY and SATURDAY, commencing at Two o'clock. Stage Manager, Mr. Edward Stirling. Acting Manager, Mr ; Edward Murray. R OY AL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison, Sole Lessees. THIS EVENING, the MARRIAGE OF GEORGETTE : Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. H, Corr!c. To conclude with the Grand Christmas Pantomime, BLUE BEARD or, Harle qnin and Freedom in her Island Home. Clowns, Messrs. H. Boleno, H. Payne. Hildyard, and Lilliputians. Harlequins, Messrs. Milano and F. Payne. Pantaloons, Messrs. Barnes and Tanner. Columbines, Mdme. Boleno and Clara Morvan. Sprites, the Zelinski Family. Mr. W. H. Payne, Mlle. Lamoureux, &c. Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. Commence at Seen. THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET, ',ewe, Mr. J. B. Baskstone. THIS EVENING, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. Tony, Lumpkin, Mr. Buekstone ; Young Marlow, Mr. Howe; Misi Hardcastle, Miss Fanny Stirling After which, a new Pantomime, QUEEN LADYBIRD AND HER CHILDREN. The Pantemimists by the un rivalled Leclercqs, Herr Cole, and Fanny Wright. Commence at 7. .R 0 YAL PRINCE S S'S THEATRE..... Lessee and Manager. Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, Jan. 1, ERNESTINE. Messrs. J. G. Shore, R. Cathcart, Basil Potter; Mesdames Heath, Car lotta Leclercq, Weston, and Murray. After which, a new Christmas comical pantomime, entitled ROBINSON CRUSOE ; or, Harlequin Friday. and the Kin,9.: of the Caribbe Islands : in which Monsieur Espinosa and Mdlle. Marie Dutnilatre, of the principal cantinental theatres, will appear. Clown, Mr. A. F. Forrest. A DELPHI, NEW THEATRE-ROYAL. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Beni. Webster. THIS EVENING, AN UGLY CUSTOMER. lUessrs. .7 L. Toole, C. Selby, and `garde ; Miss K. Kelly, and Miss E. Thorne. After which, THE COLLEEN BAWN. D. 13oncicault, D. Fisher, Billington, Falconer, Stephenson, C. J. Smith, Romer. Miss Agnes Robertson, Miss Wool i gar, Mrs. Billington, and Mrs. Chattcrley. To conclude with a new Burlesque Extravaganza, entitled BLUE BEARD FROM A NEW POINT OF HUE. Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, C. J. Smith ; Miss Woolgar, K. Kelly, Laidlaw, and E. Thorne. Doors open at half-past B—Commence at 7. Box-office open from 10 till 5. No charge for booking. Private boxes, 42 21.; Family Boxes, 41. Orchestra Stalls, ss. *, Balcony, 45.; Front Circle Stalls, 2g.; Pit Stalls, 25.; Pit, is. Bd. ; Amphitheatre, 15 ; Gallery, 6d. Acting ganager—Mr. Win. Smith. THEATRE -ROYAL LYCEUM, so.e Lessee and Directress, Madame CELESTE. THIS EVENING THE OMNIBUS. Pat Rooney, Mr, John Drew. After which, the Lyceum Christmas Comic Extravaganza, CRYSTABELLE or, The Rose without a Thorn, showing THE VISION OF 'A ROSE. ITS FADING AT EVE, AND THE MAY-BLOOM OF THE WILD BRIAR. Followed by the comic Drama, entitled HANDY ANDY. Messrs. Campbell. Johnstone, T. Lyon. Forrester, Villiers, Butler, and John Drew; Mrs. J. Rouse, Miss Hudspeth, Miss 11..Ternan, and Miss Neville. A . STLEY'S ROYAL AIVIPHITITEATRE.- f Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Wax. BATTY. This Evening, a new Spectacle, entitled THE LION CONOITEROI? ; or, The Death Jungle, expressly for the introduction of the Wonders of Mt, World, " The Groupe of Performing, Lions." The Lion Conqueror, Mr. J. Crockett. To be succeeded by Scenes irt the Arena, supported by talented Parisian and British Artistes. Concluding with Batty's Prize Equestian Comic Panto mime, for Good Little Boys and Girlq, by T. L. Green woo d, entitled HARLEQUIN AND THE WONDERFUL ITOR SE ; or. Percinet P.nd Grociosa, the I:gly Duchess and the Greedy King, produced with Gorgeous Scenery, by Mr. Cuthbert, new Costumes and Appointments,aml introducing in the comic scenos Batty's Prize Equestrian Harlequinade, and the celebrated Old Bob Ridley, and Brandon Ledger. Harlequin Mr. Sylvester. Columbine Miss Hariet Dalton. Pantaloon Mr. G. Perks. Clown Mr. .James Cooke. Sprites—Messrs. Thorne, Lockhart, and Sons. Doers open at half-rast 01, performance commence at 7. Box-eine open daily from 11 till 4 Statze Manager—Mr. Fl. WERT. Director of the Arena—Mr. Pearson. CANTERBURY HALL. Open Every Evening at "even. GRAND SP.T. ECTIONs (First Time) from LA EXGLIA DEL REG TMEN TO (Donizetti), NORMA, SONNAMBULA, and-MARTITA. Principal Artistes Miss RCSS ELL , M a d ame M ARTA, Miss TYRRELL, Miss WILLIAMS, Mr. HENRY RERBERT, C. W. BERNARD, and Signor Tivott. Musical Director.... Mr. F. JOnGTIMANS. The Comic Department compri , es Messrs. J. 'ILA NCIIARD A. B. liourasiGsivotrrt, Master BARAr, G. W. PELL, CHARLEY Fox. and B. MARSHALL. The Fine Arts Gallery has been enriched by the addition of the late John Martin's three Grtnel Pictures—viz., `• THE GREAT DAY of IiTS WRATP" "THE PLAINS of EAVEN," and "THE LAST JUDG' 3IENT," on view Until 12 o'clock at Nigtt. lIIGII WATER. AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morniz,g, 33m.—Aftcrnoon, sh. rm. To-monnow.-Morning, sh. 24m.—Afternoon, sh. 46m. TIIE WEATHER.—Surr:Opvic7, J. 1, 1361, TIMMOMETEIt, IN THIS SHADE. 45—highest since noon yesterday. 4 5—lowest this morning and during the night. 40—this day at noon. BAnomETER-29.18; it is now 20.30. WlND—South-Woqtcrly till 'ten o'clock to-day, now North-Easterly—fresh and cold. The variation in the weather for the last three days has been very sudden and frequent. LONDON, TUESDAY, JAN. 1, 1861. New Year's Day has brought once more t• JOHN (ILL, as a pleasant souvenir of the Flight of Time, his "Little Bill" for the twelvemonth dead and gone—that annual abstract of the Revenue drawn up under the auspices of England's Ministerial actuary and accountant, her MAJESTY'S Chancellor of the Exchequer. While our Imperial Ally is receiving his car. (lintels, marshals, admirals, and all the great dig nitaries of France this morning in the salle du tt"oree of the Palace of the Tuileties—Torte BULL 'is quietly turning over his ledger and day-book for the Past year in his counting-house, like a thorough going man of business as he is. Better for him than all the resplendent pomps of a court ceremonial, more agreeable to his tastes, more delightful in everyway as a subject of con plation, is that wonderful array of facts and figures year by year making up the balance of his immense income and his magnificent expenditure. And what other power upon earth can display to view such a Revenue Table ds that which, with unfailing regdriarity,4 B - spread out annually and quarterly before England by her skilled officials at the Trea sury ? The ceaseless industry of this enormous hive, the astounding wealth there accumulating increasinly, the growing and growing magnitude of it's imperial enterprises, the expanding scope of the operations adventured upon by its people and by its Government—all these are typified by the significant and suggestive items jotted down in these periodical returns of the produce of the Revenue and of its application. And marvellous as these returns have been hitherto, more and more marvellous they become as time advances, as the population increases, as the riches of the population increase with it, as classes rise end rise in prosperity under the incentive of a generous and unflagging emulation, in proportion, in point of fact, to the diffusion more and more t! - ronghout this great community of the elevating and humanising irifiu2nc:; of its elaborated civilise .. Frequently as we have had reason before now to recognise these and other kindred truth; -when examining the returns of the counqy, from time to time, under the lens of this microscope of the revenue, we can never, have our attention recalled to this scru tiny without *the array of facts, there brought to light, leaving the mind filled with a sense, ever fresh and ever new, of wonder and admiration. tior, It i 3 something smely for even all Englishman 4 • , ' • " • . - 4 .l4llllll■ L ir. • 4 '4, , • ' 'N4" 1, 1 . sr • • - ~4 , • NIZA- Ar. THE SUN. to marvel at, that the gross amount of the national revenue, the revenue rowed into and out of the coffers of the United Kingdom, has attained at last in this year of grace, 1860, the year which has been only within the last few hours completed, that the gross amount of this extending revenue has reached an aggregate closely approximating to £72,000,000 ! The actual amount of revenue with which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has had to deal during 1860, between the Ist of January and the 31st of December inclusively, being in truth exactly £71,967,495 ! Showing an advance upon the, preceding year of £5,896,906—0r otherwise but the merest trifle (just £102,954) less• than a good round sum of £6,ooo,ooo—the returns of 1859, chewing an aggregate of £66,070,469. This alone is surely a wonderful result, brought vividly before us—a wonderful result of the national pros perity. What other nation in the world could bear like England with equanimity, without revolt, without bankruptcy, such a load of imposts as that here represented in this vast ■uperincumbent weight placod upon the broad Atlantean shoulders of Joitx BULL, the world of taxes, represented in that huge orbicular total of £71,967,495, but just £32,505 less than £72,000,000 within the last twelvemonth ! Looking more closely and keenly into these returns, we are led irresistibly to the conclusion that the financial epoch now attained by England under the auspice s o f M r. GLADSTONE, i s essen ti a l, and in some respects rather alarmingly transitional. Examining the Table of the Revenue for the four last quarters making up this henceforth notable year of our LORD 1860, we behold abundant and irresistible evidence that as a financier Mr. GLAD SToNE is without any exception the boldest, the most rash, the most daring Experimentalist that has ever held in this country the responsible office of Chancellor of the Exchequer. Turning to the Customs alone, we find there a decrease upon the last quarter of £364,000 as compared with the corresponding quarter of the preceding twelve month. Nay, we find a decrease upon the whole year in the Customs, as compared with 1859, of £1,792,184, or but £207,816 less than a decrease (upon Customs alone !) of £2,000,000. A diminu tion traceable at once directly to the Commercial Treaty proposed during 1860 between France and England. Of the operation of that Commercial Treaty, however, this decrease of £1,792,184 is but the commencement. Happily the de crease upon. Customs thus caused during 1860 by the early operation of the Commercial Treaty with France—the benefits of which Treaty must still for a long while remain, to say the least of them, exceedingly problematical—happily that particular decrease upon Customs during the last twelvemonth has been rendered less in the long run by an appreciable increase under other items, such as corn, and rum, and tea, in the varied receipts of the Customs Revenue. Another decrease of a large and noticeablekind will be found recorded in another division of this last tabulated abstract from the Treasury —namely under the head of Excise, where there has !been a falling off actually within the last quarter, of a round sum of £1,000,000, nay of Xl,OOO over and aboval,ooo,ooo. Attributable variously, this large decrease upon the quarter, to a diminished consumption of spirits, to the postponement of the Hop Duty, but princi pally and above all to the recent reduction of the Malt Credit. While, however, there has been that considerable decrease in Customs' receipts upon the last quarter a decrease, as we have shown, of more than a whole million sterling, there has.been an increase upon the last year amounting to as much as £28,000 in this branch of the Revenue. An increase, it is curious, and to Mr. GLADSTONE it ought to be actually cautionary, to note—not merely to the circumstance of the transfer to the Ex cise of the duty collected on Game Certificates not merely to the increase upon the year on Hops and on Licenses, but (0 ye gods and little fishes !) it is attributable also to an increased productiveness in the receipts drawn from the duty levied upon PAPER ! What may be Mr. GLADSTONE'S feelings upon noting little jottings down like these upon the Revenue returns for 1860, it would be at once amusing and instructive to learn. As it would _ • _ certainly be interesting to know what his sensa tions might be when conning the returns of the Income Tax for 1860, remembering his distinct pre dictions upon this point some seven years ago, pre dictions since then again and again reiterated, voluntarily and even obtrusively ! Compare those predictions of his, by the way, the whole elabo- rated scheme of his policy, for the diminu. tion gradually, bit by bit, and eventually for the extinction of the Income-tax altogether in 1860 ! —with the return of the aggregate proceeds of the perpetuated and (increased Income-tax (in 1860 !) the enormous slim, namely, of £12,901,816 —or merely a trifle under £13,000,000, extorted from the country under the detested name of the Income Tax, extorted within the very year in 'which that abhorred Income Tax was to " cease and determine," while the identical finan- cier who had ostentatiouslypre-arranged all this stil holds office as her MAJESTY'S Chancellor of the Ex. checiaer. Recollecting these and a few other ugly , . facts suggested to us by the Revenue Rectums just published, and conscious that we have only to look forward, both in Customs and in Excise, to pro bable diminutions, and to certain and unavoidable fluctuations, while we may feel disposed, cordially and seasonably, after the manner of Tiny Tim, to wish, upon this New Year's Day, a Happy New Year to Everybody—we can hardly venture, through fear of an imputation of irony, to include under that noun of multitude the name of the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Count TELEKY is liberated. But the matter can not be so hushed up, Only a few days ago we had a trial in an English Court of Justice, in which the wonder to judge, jury, and the public was that the defendant had utterly lost shame. He had seduced a respectable young woman, debauched her min d by acts we need not repeat ; and having thus de praved her habits by the unheard-of depravity of his own, he settled disputes with 'her by the cart-whip, and by paying servants to knock her down. Yet, though being a wealthy man, he could have settled all amicably by a pecuniary indemnity of no moment to him, he did not hesitate to let the quarrel between them come to a trial ; and, without the prospect of gaining a farthing by it, to proclaim to the world greater by his own une xam pl e d infamy—all the being the cause of hers. Just such a preposterous act of shamelessness is that of Austria in the instance of Count TELEKY. It was gratuitous self-exposure, and that, as in the case alluded to, by includin g in her own disgrace the humiliation of another Government. In Venetia, for instance, revolting as Austrian brutalities end government are there, the tyrant's pretext has something in it—" I must humble and crush, or give up. A despot's necessity compels me to be a brute." Be it so. No necessity whatever required that Austrian police should have known that Count LAIASLAUS TELEKY was in a neighbouring State at all. To avoid all unpleasantness he had travelled under an assumed name. Austria had no occasion, if she knew she could do it, to read LADISLAUS TELEKY for JOHN HAROLD on a passport. Yet this stupid, insane State choose to do so. She choose, that is, to perpetrate in the face of civilised Europe an offence, the meanness of which will never be forgotten; and, she being the power which was able to compel—the tempter to whom Saxony dare not say nay—the abasement of Saxony is equally, and even more, the abasement ' of Austria. What the depth of that abasement is may be seen in the admirable language of Lord PALMERSTON in a case substantially parallel, fully illustrated by the eloquent pen of M. KOSSUTII in his letter to The Sun of last night ; "if there is one rule which more than another has been ' observed in modern times by all independent States, both great and small, of the civilised world, it is the rule not to deliver up political refugees. The laws of hospitality, the dictates of humanity, the general feelings of mankind, forbid such surrenders ; and any independent Government which by its own free will were to make such a surrender would deservedly and universally be stigmatised as degraded and dis honoured." There was in the affair, it seems, something of the Chinese kidnapping under false assurances, for which we have just burnt to the ground at Pekin some £2,000,000 of imperial property. The Saxon commissary of police gave the Count a solemn promise that, in the event of his confessing that he was not the person named JOHN HAROLD in the passport, no harm should come to him. No sooner, however, had he made the admission, than the Saxon officers —who must have studied well in the Jesuit school of Hapsburgism—laid violent hands on him ! Had he, at the request of the quaking statesmen of Vienna, simply removed the noble Hungarian to the nearest really independent State, we might have held all parties excused—Austria on account of her fright, and Saxony on account of her subjec tion. But no; the Saxon officials mustneeds show how well they had been taught to regard themselves as the police equally of Austria. Well did they approve their zeal in what is pronounced by the highest authority impossible—the service of two masters. We misrepresent, however; it was the service of but one master—the Saxon Government was but an upper servant of the one master, Aus tria. The English resident Minister, it appears' immediately protested —many of the Saxons them selves did the same—but Baron BEUST, the Minister President of Saxony, is, it seems, a complete crea ture of Austria, and ready, like his immediate Sove reign, to work telegraphs, railroads, police,dungeons and everything in her service. Austro-Saxons were, however, a little disappointed ; they had some hope, at first, that they had laid hands on ALEX ANDER TELEKY, a military man, who may be of some use in a new Hungarian campaign ; he fought in 1818 in Hungary; in 1859 with the Piedmon tese against the Austrians; and again with GARI BALDI; it would have been something to have shut up in prison even one efficient Hungarian officer. Their luck was not, however, so great ; they caught only a civilian—one indeed of great eminence and influence, and whose only crime—quite enough to incur a sentence of death from an Austrian court martial in 1848 —was that he had been his country's representative at Paris during the Revolution. Austria, however, soon found that, degrade her self as much as she pleased, it would not be tolerated by some, at least, of the Great Powers, that she should injure, in defiance of all the laws of modern civilisation, a. noble patriot, whose merely nominal offence was committed eleven years ago. The French Press was soon instructed to do its duty, and did it indignantly. Lours NAPOLEON knows what the position of a refugee is—he has never shown any insensibility to the rights of poli tical refugees—rather the contrary. We can indeed little doubt that he felt almost personally insulted by seeing a distinguished refugee delivered up under a treaty for the extradition of criminals ; and perhaps the very significant remonstrance which Austria got from him had as much as any thing to do with the speedy release of the prisoner. Lord JOHN RUSSELL, we may be sure, even in addressing Austria, would use language not less worthy of his country than the noble words of Lord PALMERSTON which we have just quoted. Indeed, from every quarter but Russia, she could have heard. but one language—that of warning her not to persist in so gross a blunder. But what are we to think of the incurable stupidity of a Government which, at the very moment when conciliation of Hungary is of vital importance to the integrity of the empire, could thus seize by the meanest treachery one of her noblest sons, and one who had jest been elected by the Comitat of Pesth as their delegate ? And again how stupid—we, can find no other word so • appropriate—just when Austria needs, if ever she did, a character in the face of Europe, to perpetrate a deed which must degrade her not only with free Governments, but even with those who do not epsnly condemn her. Is it really, the prius dementat, which is the precursor of the final judgment of Heaven ? No earthly advantage is conceivable from the step. Even assume, what no one believes, that it was intended to make a subsequent show of magnanimity by releasing the Count, the prior baseness would de- stroy every portion of magnanimity. Were even the release not due to the danger of provoking Hungary to insurrection, and to tho remonstrance of other courts, yet what magnanimity could there be in liberating a man captured by the very reverse of magnanimity ? More than anything of late must we view this act as showing Austria to be a doomed incurable. Nothing can save her. A Government that could do what she has just done, can never be trusted any more by her nationalities. Hungary, especially, will see that Austrian resent- ments cannot be mitigated by time---that she wil gratify them at the cost of the lowest baseness, and more than ever will the Magyars demand such guarantees as Austria cannot violate. BIDEFORD, NEW YEAR'S EVE, 1860. TO ELIZA COOK. This morning, on my garden gate, I heard a robin sing As merry as a linnet in The sweet and bonny spring; And I felt how ho had suffer'd For the last week or two; Yot he had liv'd to sing again, And so I thought may you. It often wrings my tender soul When trilling o'er your lays, To think that nature's darling child Must shun her sunny ways. While the sweet touch that woke her lyre Is still as brave and true, As when it struck " The Englishman" "Not as I us3d to do." And then I fear at times that I May live to know the doom Of being coop'd within the walls Of pale affliction's room. And when I dwell on that dark thought I%Te-p heart-frnrw for you; God save me from that sad refrain, " Not as I used to do Yet, dearest friend, wily should I dip My pen in briny tears, And fill my letter full of sighs Instead of smiles and cheers. The sorrows of last year are gone, May joy come with the new, And glory stream upon your path Just as it used to do. EDIVARD Creditors of the Australasian Land and Emigra tion Company (Limited) are required to prove their claims in the Court of Bankruptcy on the Ota January. The delay in the arrival of the later and anxiously expected advices from Now York is explained by the severe character of the weather in the Atlantic, as experienced by the steamers which have just come our. A dense fog spread over Southampton Water and the Solent yesterday, and the mail pickets Seine, Ceylon, and Tagus could not come into the Southampton dock in consequence, although they reached the Needles early in the day. Steam tugs were sent in search of them to bring in their mails, and had great difficulty is finding the vessels. THE . MURDER BY D2,OIVNIING IN TIIE RIVER CLYDE.—In this case, on Saturday, 0. Cue Glasgow Circuit Court, John M'Fadyen was found gtilty by the jury of the murder of the child Alexander Shields. His counsel craved a verdict of insanity. The prisoner was condemned to death at Glasgow on the 19th inst., het it is expected the sentence will be remitted on the grocnd of imbecility. DEATHS FROM STARVATION AND COLD.—Yester day Mr. Humphreys, the coroner, had three inquests, at each of which a verdict was returnedthat death was caused by destitution, starvation, and cold. WATCH NIGHT.—Not only ia all the Wesleyan chapels, but in many of the neetrpolitan churches, were religions - services performed until a few minutes before twelve o'clock. The new year was received in silent prayer, and, after a hymn had bern sung, the congregation separated. COVENTRY DISTRESS.—te Rev. Canon Milkr has issued an Urgent appeal to lis parishioners of St, 'Mar tin's, Birmingham, on behalf o the destitute and starving artisans of Coventry and their amines. A parish meeting with the same object is to be hdd to -morrow. THE PRINCE CONSORT IN CAMBRIDGE.—eam.- bridge was honoured with a Vsit by his Royal Highness the Prince Consort yesterday, she ostensible object being the inspection of Madingley-lall, and the preparations making thereat for the receptionof his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. THE HETTON COLLIEIY EXPLOSION.—The Hetton Coal Company have uncertaken to provide for the families of those who were left cestituto by the late explo sion in one of their collieries. 21r. Nicholas Wood, one of the partners of the company, sad it was at first the inten tion of the proprietors to subscribe £l,OOO to a fund for the relief of the afflicted ; but the owners of the colliery sub-- sequeatiy determined to extend their munificence b viding for the widows and children, the former fq - z life or till re-marriage, the latter till they were able to provide for themselves. A NEW WAR IN PARTRY.—Under this heading a correspondent of the Morning News at Ballinrobe an nounces that Lord Plunk-et was in attendance at sessions in that town on Friday last, "on a process of ejectment against some wretches on his property." THE WEATHER IN IRELAND.—Our frost and snow have disappeared completely under the influence of a rapid thaw, which set in on Friday night, accompanied by a strong breeze from the south-east, which on Saturday night grew into a perfect hurricane. Some damage to shipping along the east coast is reported. ,DUTCH RHENISH RAILWAY.—The receipts for the fortnight ending Dec. 15 amount to £5,972 145., and for the corresponding period of last year to £5,421 13s. 2d., showing an increase of £551 Os. 10d. in favour of the pre sent year. CAPTURE OF COINERS AT BRADFORD,--On Saturday night Detective Hartley:and Sergeant Sugden and other officers broke into an apparently unoccupied dwelling in the locality of Maachester-road, and there found two young men, named Thomas Williams and Benjamin i Woodhead, eng age d i n t h e act of coining base half-crowns and base florins. MEDALS FOR THE POPE'S IRISH BRIGADE.-- The Zorning News has the following announcement : "We are enabled to state for the information of the soldiers of StlPatrick's Battalion, that in a few weeks the medals ordered by the Roman Government for the late campaign will be ready for distribution, 12,000 medals are now being struck off. A small portion have reached Ireland, but none will be distributed until the entire number for St. Patrick's Battalion reach this country. This will, we understand, be in about a fortnight. We shall inform the members of the battalion at the earliest moment of the arrangements for the distribution of these honours." SURREY GAS CONSUMERS COMPANY.—A special meeting of this company was hold to consider what steps should be adopted on the expiring of Mr. Croll's lease. Mr. Croll offered .. 4 2,2,000 a-year, in addition to that which he now paid, if his lease was renewed. This was objected to, as it was thought the company could obtain a better dividend if they carried on the work themselves. On the question of profit, Mr. Croll said he had not made £5,000 a-year, but he would not tell the meeting the exact sum. The proceedings were brought to a close by a committee being appointed to consider the whole subject. Among the advertisements drawn up for the temptation of the Parisian public at this present-giving season, is one of a calculating machine, " able to perform all the operations of arithmetic," for 150 francs. Another offers "un baby mecaniqui," and we are told that if we were to see it walk and fight, and hear it cry on being put to bed, we should call it un petit diablotin. RAILWAY SIGNALMAN KILLED.—At an early hour on Saturday morning, an accident, attended with a fatal result, occurred near the Sudbury Station of the Lo ndon and North-Western Railway. It appears that a policeman, named John 3facnamara, in the Service of the company, was proceeding along the line to the Brent branch signal-post, to relieve the signalman, who had been on night duty, when he incautiously ventured between the metals, by which the 6.15 a.m. train from Euston station was approaching, and was struck down by the engine and frightfully injured, the entire train passing over him and completely severing his legs from his body. The driver did not observe the dangerous proximity of the unfortunate man, owing to the obscurity of the atmosphere, until it was too late to arrest the speed of the train, and when assistance was rendered life was extinct. ABOLITION OF FEES TO CORONERS.—To-day all fees to county coroners will be abolished under the act of last session, and henceforth they will be paid by salary, to be fixed by justices in session on an average of the last five years. In the event of disagreement, the Home Sec retary is to determine the amount to bo awarded. Every five years a revision of the salaries may be made. Thaw has set in in Paris, and has rendered the streets both unpleasant and dangerous. The snow, which is only melted on the surface, is extremely slippery, and many accidents have occurred. CLOSING OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. —From this day to the 7th inst. inclusive the British Museum will be closed to the public, in accordance with' annual usage. During the recess a strict investigation will be instituted as to the condition of the books in the reading-room, and of the works supplied to students from the library of refe rence, and the entire collection in those departments will be compared with the catalogues, in order to ascertain the precise nature of the dilapidation the volumes may have sustained. The recent wanton abstraction of some valuable maps of the Chinese Empire from a folio atlas has induced the trustees of the national collection to order every pre caution to be taken to obviate the recurrence of so disgrace ful a transaction. CO-OPERATION IN ROSSENDALE.—We (Bury Times) are told that the Raw•tenstall Manufacturing Com pany are endeavouring to treat with Richard Ashworth, Esq., for the purchase of his extensive works at Fall Barn, including the mill, machinery, cottages, eze. Appointed valuers have made an examination of the property, and tho estimated value is £70,060. We understand that the con cern has been conducted very prosperously. THE LATE ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ROB DERY IN DUBLlN.—Joseph Dwyer, the young man ac cused of being the person who attemptedto rob and murder the porter Mullholland, in Blackhall-parade, on the even ing of the 27th inst., is now in the ben& of tho poEoc. IZo was arrested in a back room of the houso No. 64, Church street, between three and four o'clock yesterday evening. The door of the room in which he was found was unlocked. On the officers entering and seizing him he submitted without a struggle. ACCIDENT AT DEVONI D ORT.—About 11 o'clock on Saturday morning last an accident occurred at Devonport. In consequence of a deficiency of docks in the yards long enough for the new class of ships lately introduced into the Royal Navy,'there being only ono (at Keyham) barely capable of receiving the Himalaya, Messrs. Kitt and Son, contractors, have been converting two docks in the Devon port Dockyard, one inside the other, and called the stern dock, into a now dock, which will be 360 feet long, and of proportionate depth. The excavations aro well forward, the division between the two docks is no more discernible, and a large quantity of the worked stone which formedthe sides of the old docks has been roughly piled up just within the old tidal gates of the original outer dock, which are kept closed. On this pile a temporary tramway has been laid, and on Saturday one of the contractor's drivers was con ducting over it a truck laden with a heavy block of granite for facing the new dock. The dock lies 'nearly east and west, opening into Hamoaze, and the driver was going• from south to north. When partly across, the truck got off the rails, and rolled toward the dock. Seeing the im pending danger, the driver, calculating on the strength of the hoi se, which was a powerful animal, thought by putting Baleful towards the sea, to save the horse, if not the stone or the truck. His efforts were, however, unavailable : the truck with the stone ran over, the horse was pulled with it by the chains, and the driver held on by the bridle so long that all were precipitated together. The accident quickly attracted a thousand spectators, who fully expected to find man and hrsr, -, e The horse, which had one of his fore legs broken, stood on the other three, and yielded with much docility to the guidance of a stranger, a soldier, the first person down. The driver stood up ; he could not speak, but placed one hand on his face, and pointed to it with the ether. llis head had been violently dashed against a block of granite, which broke his jaw ; he was at first conveyed to•thc dockyard surgezy, and then sent to his home in a cab. The accident is attributed to the slippery condition of the rails in consequenceof the state of the weather, LATEST NEWS. PARDON OF COUNT TELEKY. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) PARIS, TUESDAY MORNING. The Moniteur has commenced publishing in in its non-official part, a daily political review. That of to-day contains the following : " The Fmperor of Austria has received Count Teleky, and announced that he would grant to him a full and complete pardon, on condition of his conducting himself henceforth as a faithful sub ject. " Count Teleky promised this, and left the Impe rial Palace a free man." The 21Thniteur also publishes a decree conferring on General Montauban the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. VIENNA, JAN. 1. The official Wiener Zeitung says :—" The Em peror having summoned Count Teleky to his pre sence, accorded to him the cessation of the pending proceedings against him, and set him at liberty. Count Teleky promised to give up all his political connections abroad, not to cross the frontiers of the Austrian empire, and to abstain from all parti cipation in political affairs." LIVERPOOL, JAN. 1 The screw steamship Great Britain, Captain Gray, from Melbourne, was reported off Voel Nant at 8 o'clock this morning. The American ship Golden Star, from Mobile for Liverpool, has been totally lost on the coast near Wexford. The captain, his wife, and servant, and 15 hands were drowned. The mate and six hands were saved. The cargo consisted of upwards of 3,700 bales of cotton. LISBON, DEC. 30. The Royal Mail steamship Magdalena, which arrived here this morning from the Brazils, will leave for Southampton at 2 p.m., with 48 pas sengers, and $27,726 in specie. PARIS, DEC. 3 Russia has made complaints here on account o, the revolutionary agitation in the Principalities. Prince Couza has offered to Austria certain guarantees in reference to the Hungarian refugees. The report that some governments have recently taken collective steps at Paris in reference to the question of Gaeta is without any foundation. VIENNA, DEC. 3 The Creditanstalt has given notice that it will pay the 5 per cent. interest on the 2d January next. This notice has had no effect on the money market. BOOKS OF THE SEASON. The Pilgrim's Progress. By John Bunyan. A New Edition, with a Memoir and Notes. By . George Offer. Illustrated with One Hundred and Ten Designs by J. D. Watson. Engraved on Wood by the Brothers Dalziel. Routledge. Among the numerous elegant books that appear at this season it is gratifying to meet with so excel lent a work as this, and which has become a stan dard one in the literature of our country. Artistic] skill and elegant taste have combined to render this production admirable in its entirety. Those who peruse this volume will agree in the opinion that the following hope has been fully realised :—That veneration for the memory of Bunyan has stimu lated the editor's most anxious care to render this edition a correct fac simile of what the aithor himself published. The memoir of John Bunyan is most interesting, and it will afford to many a clearer insight into the character of that remark able man, The strange contrast which his earlier years presented to his later ones is thus strongly touched upon :—" The history of mankind does nq furnish so remarkable'a memoir as that of the prince of allegorists. From the most degraded state in the ranks of human nature, he was, by Divine tuition, fitted to become an exalted minister of the Gospel, a Christian hero, exhibiting that mighty conquest over sin and death by which the portals of life are opened to exquisite enjoym en t an d t o an infinite and eternal extent.' It is a remarkable thing that in this period of lawlessness two such characters as Milton and Bunyan should hove existed. It is said that one was a decided republican, whose sublime poem of "Paradise Lost" has graced the literature of this country ; the other as decided a royalist, whose " Pilgrim's Progress" has been proved a most im portant blessing, not only to this nation, but to the whole world. The accoant given of the imprison ment of Bunyan is very interesting, and it is worthy of attention that he wrote the "Pilgrim's Progress" while in prison ; this was, indeed, finding the way to lead captivity captive, as is remarked by the editor in the notes, they imprisoned him to prevent his preaching .to a few believers, and from that prison by this book he shed a sacred lustre not only over all Britain, but to the uttermost ends of the earth. "For though men keep my outward man Within their looks and bars, Yet, by the faith of Christ, I can Mount higher than the stars." The following impressive mention is made of the effect produced by this extraordinary work. " Thus by an irresistible impulse from Heaven upon the mind of a prisoner, for Christ's sake, did a light shine forth from the dungeon on Bedford-bridge which has largely contri buted to enlighten the habitable globe. It has been translated into most of the languages and dialects of the world. Even the Caffrarian and Hottentot, the enlightened Greek and Hindoo, the remnant of the Hebrew, the savage Malay, and tho voluptuous Chinese—all have the wondrous narrative in their own language." It is unneces sary to dwell at any length on the text of a work which is well known to all readers at all versed in general literature. Depreciated because not under stood by some, and overrated because of the exag gerated ideas of others, this composition in its own real merits is sure to impress powerfully and to in fluence rightly all who at all can read its meaning and possess the key to its storehouse of inexhaus tible riches. Some of the symbols of our faith are herein pourtrayed to us, and many are often more ctruok• by an allegory which brings mighty things more immediately before the eye and sense than they are by the exact expression of the solemn truth or the inspired prophecy. The most impor tant points in the narrative are made plain to the simplest comprehension and intelligible to all but the wilfully hardened heart and darkened mind. The progress of the pilgrim from this world to that which is to come is a theme which is of in terest to every individual, and of importance to every mortal, and that this passage is thorny and this path is beset with danger none can deny. Non est ad astra terris e via is a truth that all around soon teaches. When we find Christian in triumph reaching the hill of dif ficulty, and lying down to res t i n the Chamber of Peace within the walls of the Palace Beautiful, and when at last having overcome all obstacles, and fought in courage his arduous battle, he passes through the overwhelming floods, and is conducted by the shining hosts of heaven to the glorious gate of the Celestial City, does not the reader behold a picture of the inward peace that passes all under standing that must attend the reflections of the just; " What nothing earthly gives or can destroy, The soul's calm sunshine and the heartfelt joy." and again does he not see, reflected though it may be through a glass darkly, a vision of the better life to come, whose glories are spoken of with reverence, as the eloquent enthusiast seeks to impart a glimpse of the dazzling lustre of the shining city to the benighted pilgrim on a darkened road, and to the harrassed souls struggling on in despondency and gloom. This work is now illustrated in a manner worthy of it, and some of the engravings are most admirably executed. Among the best are the Pilgrims ascending the Last Hill, when the hosts of heaven came forth to welcome them. The Valley of the Shadow of Death is a giaLkl. sketch, and seems to bring before one a vision of an awful abyss, and which carries out the idea expressed in the lines beneath it "Poor man, where art thou, now thy day is night ; Good man, be not cast down, thou yet art right; The way to Heaven lies by the gates of hell Cheer up, hold out, with then it shall go well," Christian climbing the Hill of Difficulty is a very impressive sketch; it is a simple subject in itself, ) but most forcibly carried out. Some of the large figures aro very ex p ress i ve l y rendered, as, for instance, Formalist and Hypocrisy; this latter is especially to be noticed. Mr. Worldly Wiseman is also a geod delineation ; and the representation of Christian turning back is decidedly a success. The different expressions in the countenances of Chris tian and his degenerate companion are most aptly given. The sullen bitterness in the recreant man, who is resolved not to pursue the right road, and the eager, wistful look of the hopeful Christian, who is yet distrustful, as he foresees his petitions will be unheeded—all these are effective in the extreme. Faithful parting with his relatives is painfully true, as it exhibits the cold, crafty, cruel side of human nature. The bitet. che4 or the ralfica Beautiful are very graceful, and there is a touching expression of humility and grace in the faces of the handmaids of mercy that dwell there. So many subjects seem to claim attention that it is difficult to single out or select any in particular, but the work is throughout most worthy of minute obser vation in the skill displayed in the variety of its numerous engravings. An illustrated edition to a grand old work like this is a worthy undertaking for any artist, and all who admire and appreciate this masterpiece of allegory will render a tribute of approval to those who have designed and executed this ornamental edition. It can hardly fail to be widely diffused for its subject matter of intrinsic excellence, as well as its extreme elegance, supe riority, and style. Clever Poys of our Wine. By the author of "Famous Boys," & c . D arton and Co. This is a most desi ra bl e b oo k f or the young, and it is a delightful one for those of all ages to peruse. It is most interesting to obs erve h ow many of the most distinguished men o f our age who belong indeed to all time, and who in p ass i ng away from this shifting scene, leave behind a fame that passes not away—a bright remembrance of their earthly efforts to live ou in the proud recollection of their countrymen when not only themselves but the generation who admired them have returned to dust —have been self elevated. The very titles to the chapters in themselves speak volumes to those who despond or despair at the idea of rising in life. Here we have Lord Macaulay (a trader's sott), poet, orator, essayist, and historian. The attention is taken away from the last scene which lives in one's memory concerning him when he was laid to rest in that sepulchral home, where, as it was said of some worthy of last century—" Our kings, cur heroes, our poets, and sages were honoured by as association with his mortal remains" to the quiet place where he was brought up. There is a shining witness but just taken away from among us, who speaks to all in his own life of the power of perse verance. Another name that attracts attention is that of the Right Hon. B. Disraeli, who is described as a boy in an attorney's office, and now the eminent statesman. Few men of our day have achieved so signal a success as the subject of this sketch, and a success so entirely dependent on his own unaided exertions. It is said here " that he might fittingly adopt as his motto Indomitable energy and un flagging perseverance.' These were the instruments of his success—the talisman converting the obscure student into the fsrmidable debater, the consummate orator, the world-read author, and the prominent statesman." After tracing Mr. Disraeli's eventful career from his failure in his first speech to the triumphant results of his Parliamentary toils in being one of the most exciting debaters, chief of the Opposition, and finally the Leader of the House, the writer concludes in this passage the memoir. In no more appropriate manner could he conclude than by quoting this portion of a speech that Mr. Disraeli addressed to the youth of Manchester, and which might equally apply to the youth of any community. Some short-sighted or supercilious critics may sneer at these words as being too exciting and enthusi astic, but those who know of what stuff heroes are made will award a different opinion. The follow ing extract is worthy of notice : ‘, We have thus seen how the lawyer's clerk, the obscure student, by dint of industry and perseverance, raised himself to the proud position of Chancellor of the Exchequer of the greatest country on the face of the globe. It is a spectacle of which the country has just cause to be proud. And while Napoleon said that every private sol dier in his army carried a marshal's baton in his knap sack, it may be affirmed with greater truth that every youth, every young man, every private citizen in Eng land, in the exercise of courage, determination, and dili gence, may achieve a position of probity, of honour, and it may be of fame. On this subject we cannot more fittingly conclude than by quoting the words of Disraeli, addressed to the members of the -Manchester Athenaeum :—' I would address myself to that youth on whom the hopes of all societies repose and depend. I doubt not that they feel conscious .of the position which, under all circumstances, at all periods, in every clime and country, is one with replete with duty. The youth of a nation are the trustees of posterity; but the youth I address have duties peculiar to the position which they occupy. This is their inheritance. They will be called upon to perform duties—groat duties. I, for one, wish, for their sakes, and for the sake of my country, that they may be performed greatly. I give to them that council which I have ever given to youth, and which I believe to be the wisest and the best ; I tell them to aspire. I believe that the man who does not look up will look dews ; and that the spirit that does not dare to soar is destined perhaps to grovel. Every individual is entitled to aspire to that position which he believes his faculties qualify him to occupy.' " Michael Faraday, England's most eminent chemist, was the son of a poor blacksmith, a bookbinder's apprentice. It is said that little did his poor father think that he would attain to a world-wide cele brity, that Prince Albert, even, would think him self honoured by presiding at a lecture delivered by his son. Charles Dickens, "an attorney's clerk, and now the world-famed author," is described in an attractive chapter. There is an interesting en graving of his dropping his first literary contribu tion into an editor's box in a dark court in Fleet street, this is a suggestive subject of contemplation, as it was the beginni ng o f hi s a f terwards success ful literary career. Richard Cobden is another one here cited ; he is mentioned as a " farmer's boy, warehouseman, author, orator, and statesman ;" although he is unquestionably an over-rated man in some particulars, he is certainly a distinguished man in his way, and he has a right to be placed in a compilation of this sort. William Shaw Lindsay, a poor friendless orphan, cabin boy, great ship owner, and member of Parliament, is introduced as a sketch; there is an engraving of his working his way to Liverpool in an engine-room of the steamer. It is truly said that " the day of wonders has not passed, and that we are living among men whose history is as marvellous as any that the past has emblazoned in the roll of fame." While this record of the momentous men of the day contains a bright incentive to early ambition, it also presents a warning that none should neglect. There is no royal road to fame any more than to learning—no influence or interest can make a man famous unless he exerts himself. The young aspirant should remember that " The heights by great men reached and kept, Were not attained by sudden flight; But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upward in the night." Let the young study this book with attention, and ' , member that its occurrences are real, and its heroes not the fictitious characters of romance and the imaginary beings of fable, but actual breath ing examples. History's living page will here after bear witness to the deeds of the men who figure in these sketches; some have written in language that will last as long as the English tongue is spoken, while others have become mixed up in various ways with striking events of their day, and will infallibly leave a lasting impress of their works behind them. This little work will be a suitable present at this festive season, and from its skill in arrangement and choice in selection, it cannot but prove a fruitful source of entertain ment and a desirable object for contemplation. Twelve o' Clock ; a Christmas Story. By the author of " Grandmother's Money," &c. Hurst and Blackett. This is a real old-fashioned ghost story that will be most welcome at this time, when it is the custom to gather round the fire in the twilight hour, or linger there in midnight converse, and talk of marvellous and mystical adventures. There are three tales collected together in this book, and they are very ingeniously told. The first is the most striking in its details, and the peculiar circum stances that attended the illness of Mr. Woodhurst are very ably described. It is a dreadful idea that there are too many such scenes in real lite as are enacted here after the marriage of the ill-fated Viola Clifford with the despicable Bernard Schreiber. The second story relates the adventures of a miser., .It is not very likely ; but it is in its allegorical way very adroitly sketched, and the fact that he met his death in the act of searching for the object of his idolatry is a solemn warning to all like him. The desire of money could hardly attain to a greater pitch when it sent its devotee to rob the poor-box of a church. The last story is not so apparent in its meaning, but it is in its way very well arranged. The wild man. ner in which Esselton went on could have but one termination ; and the last passages are most excit ing in their intensity of interest. Many will be very much struck by the thrilling horror of the apparition of the ghosts, but the tales they relate of their doings and sufferings in the flesh are far more really dreadful than the visitants of spirits who have done with human trouble and put off mortal care. The accounts of the trouble that the poor compiler of these tales met with in his endea vours to make them generally known, is ludicrous in its very melancholy; all who wish to quit the actual scene of daily life, and wander for an hour on the enchanted ground of the spirit land, would do well to peruse this volume, in which the evil that men do lives after them, as their ghosts were ob. Homely Hints from the Fireside. By the author of " Little Things," &c. Edmonston and Douglas. This is another of those pleasant and practical little works which offer so much sound and valuable advice in a homely and unpretending form. "Little Things," and " Things to be Thought of," have long since become popular, and now these " Homely Hints" are added to the series. They are chiefly addressed to ladies of the middle rank, and they treat of a class of petty troubles and perplexities which present themselves to almost every mind, but which are seldom thought worthy of a place in works of advice or instruction. A few of the titles of the chapters will best afford an idea of its character. We have hints " On Worry," " On Sympathy," " On Interruptions," " On Offering Advice," " On Convalescence," " On Needlework," &c., besides many other subjects of domestic importance. The opening division, "On Encouragement in Well Doing," contains much cheering and helpful advice to those who cannot accomplish as much as they would. We commend this little volume to those with whom its predecessors have found favour, assuring them that - without pretentious instruction they may gather some profitable suggestions from these homely "household words." Holiday Tales. By W. Martin. Darton and Co., This is a very delightful little volume for the young, it is one of the most amusing story-books that has appeared for some time. In particular must be mentioned " The Original History of a Cat and Its Nine Lives," and " Mrs. Fiddle-Faddle's Lady-like Establishment and the Doings of Gen tility." The adventures that befell these young girls, who had the misfortune to be brought up in that abode of decorum were most singular. No one who likes a joke can fail to find e rich fund of entertainment in these vivacious pages. The ex traordinary events that occurred in the life of poor puss are also very ingeniously related to us, and one is amazed to behold the feline heroine sailing down the Thames in a boat and joining in the fight between an English and French frigate. The marvellous good genius that guarded this animal brought her safely from the depths of a French prison, where she had been immured, and bore her exultingly over the deep again past another hos tile vessel till she landed with her brave, daring protector on the English shores. Throughout this series of adventures is very lively, and it is brought before the reader in a brisk and animated manner. The " Haunted Mill" is a story very different from the others, and it contains a useful warning to all idle and spendthrift characters. The mill was the turning point of the tale ; one of the possessors died in it, another by it, and the third on it, thefourth retrieved the fortunes of the family, repossessed himself of the lost property, and through his industry and intelligence he died mayor of the town he had entered as a vagrant and outcast. The " Young Volunteers" is another of those serio-comic tales, in which the author of these light sketches has achieved so signal a success. Mr. Scrivener was a very worthy man, whom we are told, " had it been his good fortune to have died at the completion of his 40th year,would have obtained and deserved as good an epitaph as it was possible for a stonemason to cut for him." He lived, however, to became mixed up in the affairs of a Volunteer Corps that was formed in the town, and great was the confusion that ensued therefrom. There are various other little tales in this book, which furnishes a rich treat to all juveniles in search of amusement, and it may tempt their elder friends to forego serious; studies for an hour, and smile at the drollery displayed in the sketches so humor ously described. "Holiday Tales" is a right title for a book thus abounding in fun and frolic, while occasionally the young reader may obtain a glimpse of a moral that may serve him in graver hours. Legends. from Fairyland. By Holme Lee, authot of " Kathie Braude," &c., with eight illustra tions. Smith and Elder. A fairy tale beginning with " once upon a time," and ending with " lived happily ever afterwards," disarms criticism at this holiday season, especially when the title-page tells us that it narrates "the history of Prince Glee and Princess Trill, the cruel persecutions and condign punishment of Aunt Spite, the adventures of the great Tuflongbo. and the story of the Blackcap in the giant's well." All these fascinating promises are fully and fairly carried out. The valiant Prince Glee and the lovely Princess Trill, after fearful risks and hair breadth 'scapes and snares, are safely united, de spite the machinations of the wicked Aunt, as sisted by the evil masksellers, and a band of malicious fairies. That adventureus traveller, the great Tuflongbo, relates his marvellous experience in exploring the countries of the Applepivi and the Puffraspabi and Alicempagni,to theawe and admira tion of Fairyland. We are also introduced to the Old Woman who lived in the hollow Ash-tree, and her little maid Idle, who was punished for her laziness by being captured by the Wicked Fairy of the Creeping-plant. The Old Woman was Court-dressmaker to the fairies, and spun their gos samer robes, trimming them with dewdrops and moonbeams. The story of " The Blackcap" is more serious, and is something of an allegory; but the whole volume is beyond very juvenile readers, and is suited to more advanced lovers of the fairy world. Illustrated with eight engravings, and gorgeously bound, it makes its appearance most appropriately in the midst of the holly and misletoe, and will probably receive a hearty welcome from a large circle of you ng f o lk s i n " the Country under the Sun." The Horse and its Rider. By Sir Francis Be Head, Bart. Murray. After perusing Sir Francis Head's remarks upon the horse, we are somewhat at a loss to un derstand what has been his motive for presenting' them to the public. His observations are, on the whole sensible enough; but, with a few exceptions, when he introduces some peculiar idea of his own, we find it has been expounded by nearly every writer on equine matters. That he is a bold rider is pretty clearly expressed, when he talks about galloping over glaciers as a matter of course. but too many portions of the work seem to have been written. with no other object than for the sake of writing. He gives us a long description of the mode of clipping, shaving, and singeing horses. He ex patiates on the barbarity of the proceeding —the misery of the animal so treated, until he has roused the attentive reader to the boiling point of indig nation, and then goes on to state that after all the) horse does not mind it, is in far better health, and. capable of enduring more fatigue when deprived. of his rough coat than when wearing it. However,. to those who like to have b o th s i des o f th e qu e s ti on,., and that too from an a u th or who d oes not exp l a i n! his own conviction, thi s b ook may prove eniert ain— ing. The most sensible remarks to be found are , those relating to shoeing horses during frosty weather. 00................... Specimens, with Memoirs of the L ess - known British' •Poets. 3 volP. Nichol, Edinburgh. Thes e vo l umes complete the first di v i sion of Mr. Nicho]'s admirable series of the British Poets, which has appeared at r egular i n t erva l s during the last eight years. It has includ e d th e poetical works of Chaucer, Spenser, Milton, S cott, Cowper, Rums, T horn „,, ' besides many l esser names, printed in.. clear and excellent type, in volumes which form a . handsomet addition to th e s h elves of any library. Thai R e v. George Gilfillan contr i butes a memoir of each poet, with a critical essay on his works, frequently oee containing a good deal of incidental information. A short period will elapse before the second division is published, owing to the copyrights of some of the. later poets not having expired, and during that in-. torval Mr. Nichol proposes to re-issue the first division, with any improvements that may appear liged to wander over the earth until they had found a beneficent .mortal to listen to their doings. " Twelve o'clock" may take its place among the ranks of Christmas stories, in the confident expec tation that it will be a favourite from its variety of events and vivacity of style, while the mystical spirit infused into its pages is well kept up, and it is, what it purposes to be, a genuine ghost story. Japanese Fragments, By Captain Sherard Osborne, _ .... C.B. Bradbury and Evans. A reprint of the lively and graphic papers which appeared under this title in the pages of " Once a eek," forms a very acceptable Christmas volume. Captain Sherard Osborne is known as a brilliant writer as well as an able officer, and a personal visit to the singular peopla he describes, in addition to his acquaintance with the earlier writers on the subject, has fully qualified him for his present undertaking. Although it professes only to contain fragments of information, a good deal may be learned from the little volume before us; and those who were pre viously unacquainted with any of tha Japanese peculiarities will be able to gather from its pages a general idea of the country and its inhabitants, and the nature of European dealings with them. Most of our knowledge respecting the internal history of the country is somewhat superficial and uncertain, but Captain Osborne has collected the best of it, and added the information gathered from his personal experience, He takes a very favour able view of the Japanese character, and notwith standing the anomalies which he regrets in their social system, he does not regard it with disfavour. We must not omit to mention the gorgeous illus trations by artists of Yedo, which decidedly belong to the pre-Raphaelite sohool, and which add greatly to the entertainment to be derived from this clever and agreeable little volume. ;~ 5 THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAYVEVENING, JANUARY 1, 1861,