The Sun. — London, England, 1861-01-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENfi-GARDEN. Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison, Sole Lessees. THIS EVENING, and during the Week,' Balfe's New legendary Opera, BIANCA, THE BRAVO'S BRIDE ILiss Louisa Pyne, Miss Thirlwall ; Messrs. A. Lawrence, J. Wharton, H. Cor ri, A. St. Albyn, G. Kelly, Wallworth, T. Pistin, Lyall, and W. Harrison. With the Grand Pantomime, BLUE BEARD ; or, llarle /min and Freedom in her Island Home. Clowns, Messrs. H. poleno, H. Payne. Hildyard, and Lilliputians. Harlequins, Messrs. Milano and F. Payne. Pantaloons, Messrs. Barnes 011 d Tanner. Columbines, Mdme. Bolen° and Clara Morgan. oprites, the Zelinski Family. Mr. W. H. Payne, Mlle. 34amoureux, &C. Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. Commence at Seven. rrHEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Leagee, Mr. J. B. Buekstone. r THIS EVENING the nerformtneea Will Annimenee with desirl SFIE STOOPS TO CONQUER. Miss Tfardcastie, Wise Fanny Stirling; Tony Lumpkin, Mr. Buckstone. After which, a new Pantomime, QUEEN LADYBIRD AND HER CHILDREN. The Pantomimists by the un rivalled Leclereqs, Herr Cole, and Fanny Wright. Commence at 7. BO YAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.— Lessee and Manager. Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVFNING. the performances will commence with THE CORSICAN BROTHERS. Messrs. Eechter, Harris, liLeadows, Mrs. Weston, rnd Miss Murray. After which. a new Christmas comical pantomime , entitle King d R OBINSON CRUSOE ; or, Harlequin Friday, and the of the Caribbe Islands : in which Monsieur Espinosa and Mdlle. Marie Dumilatre, of the principal cantinental theatres, Will appear. Clown. Kr. A. F. Forrest. THEATRE - ROY AL LYCEUM. Sots Lessee and Directress, Madame CELESTE. Last Week of Mr. John Drew's Engagement. THIS EV ENING, a new Drama , entitled THE IRISH EMIGRANT. Messrs. G. Vining . . J. Johnstone, T. Lyon. yorreste r, and John Drew; Miss Kate Saville, Miss Stuart, and Mrs. •t• Rouse. Atter which. the Lyceum Christmas Comic Extravaganza, CRYSTABELLE or, The Rose without a Thorn, showing THE VISIO `T OF A ROSE. ITS FADING AT EVE AND THE MAY-BLOOM OF THE WILD BRIAR. To conclude With MORE BLUNDERS TITAN ONE. Larry Hoolagan, Me.:John Drew. A pgi - ,PHT, NEW THEATRE-ROYAL. Sole Proprietor awl Manseer. Mr. Pen!. 'Webster. TRIS EVENING, AN UGLY CUSTOMER. Messrs. J. 7.. Toole, C. Selby, and Warde ; Miss K. Kelly, and Miss E. Thorne. After which, TILE COLLEEN BAWN. 13. llottoieault, 11. Fisher, Billineton, Falconer, Stephenson. C. J. Smith, Romer. Miss Agnes Robertson, Miss Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, and Mrs. Chatterley. To conclude with a new Burleeque Extravaeanza, entitled BLUE BEARD Fe OM A NEW POINT OF TII7E. Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, C. J. S mith; Miss Woolga r, K. Kelly, Laidlaw, and E. Thorne. Doors open at half past 6—Commence at 7. Box-offlce open trom 10 till 5. No charge for booking. Private boxes, £2 28. ; Family Boxes, It Orchestra Stalls, 55. ; Balcony, 45.: Front Circle Stalls, Ss. ; Pit Stalls, 25.; ?Mts. 6d. ; Amphitheatre, is ; Gallery, 6cl. Ac tl n e manazer—Mr. Wm. Smith. • s TLEys ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.— , Proprietor and Manager, Mr. WM. BATTY. Last Two NightS of the Wondrously Trained Lions. This Evening, a new Spectacle, en-titled THE LION CONQUEROR ; or, The Death Jungle, expressly for the introduction of the Wonders of the World, "The Gronpe of To Pe rfo rming* Lions." The Lion Conqueror, Mr. J. Crockett be su cceeded by Scenes in the Arena, supported by talented Parisian and Brilisfr Artistes. Coneludine with Batty's Prize Equestian Comic Panto mime, for Good Little Boys and Girls, by T. L. Greenwood, entitled HARLEQUIN ANT) THE WONDERFUL HORSE ; or. Percinet and Grochlsa, the Ugly Duchess and the Greedy Ring, produced with Gorgeous Scenery, by Mr. Cuthbert, new Costumes and Appointments, and introducing In the comic scenes Batty's Prize Equestrian Harlequinade, and the celebrated Old Bob Ridley, and Brandon Ledger. Doors open at half-last 6, pertormanoe oommesoe at 7. Box-oftloe open daily from 11 till 4 Stage Manager—Mr. W. WEST; Director of the Arena—Mr. Pearson; CANTERBURY -HALL PANTOMIME THE ENCHANTED HASH," EVERY EVENING. ENTERTAINING PEOPLE. Mr. MARSHALL and Mr. BELL. GOOD TEOPLE. Wildroae, 1 Fairies, with the usual accom- 1 Mr. Marshall Primrose, 5 plishmenfs. J Mr. Bell. COMMON PEOPLE. Farmer Thickhead (it husbandman, with a Wife Mr. Bell. and Child. who m ake a fool of him) Giles Gosling (the mysi Prious Orphan, who runs after every Miss, and afterwards Harlequin)Mr. Marshall. Dame Thickhead (who having worn out the breeches, takes to Pantaloons) Mr. Bell. Dolly (the bell o f t he village, which Giles in tends to ring the —changes to Columbine)..Mr. Marshall. BAD PEOPLE. NOwleygrOWley,l Demons of the blackest dye ) Mr. Marshall Growleyhowley, 5 and brightest Magenta. 5 Mr. Bell. COMIC PEOPLE. Harlequin Mr. F. BELL. Columbine ...... •••••. Mr. E. MARSHALL. Clown Pantaloon ........ ........ Mr. F. BELL. Scene, CANTERBURY (thaf-t's) HALL nine! — Time A.D. 1861, at halpaat Mr. B. A pack of nonsense ! Mr. M. What We want— Pooh ! pooh ! Mr. B. The idea! a Pantomime played by two I HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tms DAY. —Morning, 6h. 16m.—Afternoon, 6h. !34m. To-mounow.-Morning, 6h. 50m.—Afternoon, 7b. THE WEATHER. —SUN OFFICE, JAN. 18, 1861. THERMOMETER, IN TIM SHADE. 37 —highest since soon yeeterday. 27—lowest this morning and during the night. 37—this day at noon. BAROMETER-30.30. WlND—North -Easterly—moderate; with cold raw weather, and heavy fog in the morning. LONDON, FRIDAY, JAN. 18, 1881 " Very sorry," said CountREcHBERG—" I deeply deplore it"—when told by the French Ambassador, that his master was about to withdraw his ships from Gaeta. He had reason to be so. While the " Moderator of Revolutions" kept his cousin's father-in-law in check there, Austria felt her lease of Venetia pretty secure. If the better part of the Piedmontese army were detained, and with its best siege artillery compelled to encamp around the strong fortress, it :could not at the same time be thinking of any of the fortresses of the Quadrangle. If it should be delayed there till late in the spring, it would be unable to commence any operations in the North this year ; and if another year could be got over, and if Hungary could be quieted, old BENEDER would be able to direct the whole force of the Austrian empire against CIALDINI. Very sorry indeed, therefore, we may be sure, the Em peror of AUSTRIA was, when he learned that that pleasant hope was at an end. French ships re placed by Admiral PERSANO'S, and the completed batteries of CIALDINI must soon give a good ac count of the garrison of Gaeta, strong as the place is. Indeed, the universal expectation is that the foreign troops, who chiefly compose the garrison, will grow weary of such perfectly hopeless work, and that the KING some morning will not return from the Spanish ship of war, on board of which he is said to seek his nightly repose. On the other side of him the sorrows of Count RECIIBERG and his master increase rather than diminish: The great kingdom which forms almost the military strength of his empire refuses to suc cumb. It goes on taking back one old law or right after another, quietly and as a matter of course. It has forced the EMPEROR himself to acknowledge the electoral law of 1848, and it is acting upon the other laws of that now famous date, as fast as opportunity offers. Then, the Comitats or county assemblies, which had, if anything, t oo much power for a general govern ment, now that they are in a measure reorganised, - resume their powers. They . dismiss the Atm= triaa officials, and fill their places with Germans, and are thus by degrees clear ing the country of the presence of the hated strangers. The comitat of Pesth has even gone so far as to declare the money collected since 1848 to have been raised ille gally, because without the consent of the Diet, and will not suffer what is in hand to be touched. At present order is generally kept, always, in fact, we !nay say, except when the troops, as in a recent case, force on a collision with the people. The Hungarians are perplexing their oppressors by adhering to undeniable legal right. The Austrian Mitnisters know that, since 1849, all their changes of Government and administration have been groply illegal. There is nothing whatever is the , treaties between Hungary and the Hapsburgs, nothing in the laws of the Kingdom which affords the slightest foundation for what has been done by SCHIVARTZENBERG, BACH, and their successors and comrades. It has all been effected at the point of the bayonet, not in virtue of law and right ; and if the bayonet dares not act law resumes its course. Only very recently two of the most distinguished Hungarians of 1848, Judge DEAK and Baron EOTTOS, visited Vienna ; their demand was that of all Hungarians, a separate kingdom, united only by the Crown to the rest of the Austrian Empire— the control of their own taxation and their own troops. The EMPEROR is reported to have said As yet, notwithstanding all our misfortunes and shortcomings, we have not ceased to be reckoned among the Great States of Europe. But what do you think would be the consequence of a division of the Empire into a variety of inde pendent countries, with the person of the SOVE REIGN as the sole and exclusive point of union ? I cannot acquiesce in the plan of splitting up my armies into several armies, each of them under the direction of different Ministers, and relying on the grants of different Parliaments. Whatever you may be pleased to propose on other points, it will be impossible for me to accede to this. Once more, gentlemen, neither will I nor can I have a Hungarian force by the side of a German or Bohemian." Such language may be all very well in the mouth of the poor young despot ; but we imagine the Hungarians will heed it but little. They are not in the temper to give up their demands. They require that the Hungarian regiments shall return to the kingdom, and the detested Austrians quit it ; a nd if they steadily persist in their demand they must get it. It is a pretty dilemma for the EM PEROR. If he employs out of Hungary, especially in Venetia, regiments whom their countrymen ask should return home, he cannot trust them in his army. They may shoot their Austrian officers again on the day of battle, and go over to the enemy, and paralyse all his movements. If again, he send them home, they will be a Parliamentary army in Hun gary, prepared to sustain the laws of 1848 at the point of the bayonet. It may be a great mortifica tion to FRANCIS JOSEPH to be King here, Archduke at home, Elector somewhere, and no one knows what else besides, instead of the magnificent Emperor of AUSTRIA, but there is no help for it. He and his brutal ancestors have sinned away their day of Grace, and they must now bear the conse quences. Austria's hope for the ensuing spring was the unsettlement of the South of Italy. Gaeta and Messina, and the petty disturbances fomented by Royalist agents in the KING'S name, were to occupy the troops of the King of PIEDMONT, and his army was to have quite enough to do with direct military work and repressing insurrection. But that hope is doubly destroyed—not only by the too late return to reason of the French EMPEROR at Gaeta, but by the Administration now established at Naples. There seems every probability that Prince CARIGNAN will, personally, prove an acceptable Viceroy, and his first act, than which surely one more popular could hardly have been desired, has been to intrust POERIO with the formation of an Administration. May he be found practically equal to his very difficult task ! And may his success be some atonement to him for the long years of cruel and infamous torture which he long endured! There is now we think strong ground to hope that Southern Italy and the Papal dominions may become so well settled, as to leave the Italian Army free for any demands which may be made on it in the spring. But the spring! With what bated breath do we look forward to that. Calculation is impossible. To ponder over the many various elements of great movements only assures one of the absurdity of pro phesying. Prussia we may set aside—she is anchored in selfishness, though that selfishness may be frightened. But with Hungary liable any hour to be provoked out of her admirable pas sive resistance—with Venetia crammed with Austrian soldiers, the Venetians subjugated only, and the country not to be sold to liberty—with GARI BALDI ready ft); anything in North Italy, in Dal matia, in Hungary—VlCTOß EMMANUEL unable, probably, if he wishes to quiet the demand for the liberation of Venetia—with the moody vain Emperor of the FRENCH looking on the whole, his will almost decisive of what shall be allowed— yet no one able to conjecture whether Peoples or Despots are to share his favours next time; with England, fighting through her Foreign-office and her Parliament, and fighting effectually too, since she chose to be stronger on the ocean than her neigh bour—with so much combustible material, and so many causes of combustion—whether—when-- where war shall break out, no mortal can predict. The diplomatic course recently pursued in China by the Russian Government was certainly as admirably well-timed as it was eminently charac teristic. Without firing a gun, without despatching a single ship of war into the Chinese waters, without disembarking upon the Chinese shores one solitary regiment—the Russians have, nevertheless, by simply watching their opportunity, realised every one of their projects out at Pekin, whether political or commercial. We yesterday published in the columns of our journal in extenso the text of the new Treaty between Russia and China—the Treaty concluded at Pekin on the 14th of November, 1860, and ratified at St. Petersburg on the Ist of January, 1861—a document signed by Prince KUNG, on the part of the Emperor HIEN FLING, and by General IGNATIEFF, on the part of the Emperor ALEXANDER. It is impossible, of course, to blame the Muscovite Government for its adroitness in availing itself thus of the results produced out in China through the formidable agency of the allied expedition. The power of the Tartar dynasty having been prostrated in the dust by the stretched out arms of France and England—the Autocrat of all the Russias, as a rational man, of coarse, hesi tated not one instant to avail himself to the full of so very tempting an opportunity. Through his diplomatic agent and representative, General NICHOLAS IGNATIEFF, his Imperial MAJESTY con trived with admirable skill to extort from the rulers of China, when at their weakest, all the con cessions which, for a very long while past, the Rus sian had been striving to obtain by fair means or by foul from the Chinese Government. The latter Government, like a strong man suddenly overthrown, was lying prostrated and paralysed at the con quering feet of the Allied Expedition—when Rus sian diplomacy planting its knee upon the breast of the vanquished and grappling the throat of the fallen Unfortunate, extorted from it before it could rise again to its feet all those fifteen im portant concessions enumerated in the remarkable document, the Treaty between China and Russia already referred to as having been put lished is The Sun of yesterday. It is an instruc tive spectacle in its way, this last cunning achieve ment of Russian Diplomacy. As spectators we quarrel not with it—but at the same time, as Englishmen, none of us covet or envy it as an achievement. If our Treaty of Peace has unhappily cost us some little blood and several millions ster ling in getting out that expedition by mewl of --....— which it was: extort( Id—the Treaty of Peace nego tiated by General D.:IIsTATIEFF, while costing Russia neither one drop of blood, nor yet one solitary ruble, has nevertheless cost it far more, for it has cost it the prestige u! its Imperial reputation. It has revealed to the world at large the somewhat despicable spectacle of Russia playing the part of the carrion crow after the flight of the Imperial Eagle of Franco, and of the jackal prowling at the heels of the Royal Lion of England ! The lamentable destitution now rife in London comes as a terribly opportune justification of the recent movement set on foot by W. D. B. and his sympathising co-operators, for the carrying of Relief more directly into the squalid Homes—if Homes these wretched dens of misery can be called —hid away in the secret places, the foul back• slums and populous rookeries of the metropolis. It could hardly have been expected that any of the charitable institutions already in existence before this new scheme of benevolence was first thought of by W. D. 8., and first mooted by him through the brief but electric communication which he addressed but a very few months back to our chief morning contemporary—it could hardly, we s ay, have been expected that any of the old established associations for the relief of poverty in this vast twin city of London and West minster, could regard with jealousy and with irritation, as an intruder, this new-born project for the diminution of the chances of star vation ! Yet such actually has been the case from its commencement. It was argued by the pro moters of the various previously existing establish ments, that those establishments constituted for the metropolis a perfectly adequate system of charitable organisation. Their cry was, from the very beginning of this humane movement—parti cularly after the inauguration meeting at the Thatched House Tavern, St. James's-street, an influential meeting presided over by his grace the Duke of MANCHESTER—" We want no help, but least of all such help as you could give us !" They appeared, these old-world relievers of distress, to shrink from the Volunteers of Benevolence who were pressing forward to their assistance in the work of charity—to shrink from anything like association with them, as from some mysterious kind of contamination P Their argument was that the old societies were enough for London. Notwithstanding the fright ful evidence to the contrary, afforded to the world from time to time through the returns of the Re gistrar-General—those appalling returns which have been announcing hitherto periodically the dreadful fact that men, and women, and children die, from time to time, in the midst of all our wealth, of all our charity, die literally, every now and then, from actual famine. Yet in defiance of these notorious truths—truths glaring upon the imagination of all, at uncertain intervals, through little pargraphs not unfrequently met with in the columns of the public newspapers—the charitable institutions (in spite of all whose noble exertions these miserable deaths from starvation do most unquestionably occur), repelled with jealousy, as though it were really, as we have said, an in truder alien to the object they all had in view, repelled with jealousy, as though it were some strangely antagonistic intruder, this latest adven turer in the great cause of carrying relief to our destitute population. Since this Society for the Relief of Distress, however, was first established, immediately prior to the commencement of this present winter of 1860-1861—a wintry season of unusual inclemency —how overwhelming has been its justification ! Why, the destitution now in search of relief, in spite of all the old institutions, in spite oven of the energetic co-operation of this latest addition to the charitable societies of the metropolis—the destitu tion now seeking relief in this immense capital is stalking at this moment visibly and audibly through our chief thoroughfares ! Thousands of able-bodied men out of work are wandering in melancholy groups through our streets pleading to the passers-by for assistance. And every one of these poor fellows represents a home, represents a family. There is the emaciated wife or the drooping old mother at home with the cluster of poor famishing children, There is nearly every available object in the wretched apartment i in which each of these families may be huddled toge ther,th ere is every available object there that could be carried off to the pawnbrokers'—clothing, furniture, or what not—long since pawned for food and fuel, and in this manner long ago consumed. Look at the records given in our columns from day to day, of the deplorable scenes witnessed at our principal police stations. Respectable artisans—men who have honestly earned their bread heretofore by the sweat of their brow—driven at last (we are left to imagine with what pangs of anguish) to seek the alms that may be vouchsafed to them by the benevolence of those whose almoners are our metropolitan magistrates, Hundreds upon hundreds are now living relieved in this way from day to day—altogether apart from the assistance afforded to the rest of the poor of the metropolis through the customary charitable organi sation, In spite of all which, in spite of our over crowded workhouses, in spite of the zealous labours of our clergymen of all denominations, in spite of the isolated efforts made by private benevolence, and of the systematic endeavours of all our elee- i mosynary establishments combined—it would be an extravagant hope to cherish for one instant the notion that this inclement season will pass over without causing the deaths of very many through cold, and nakedness, and hunger, and thirst, in other words, through absolute neglect and starva tion. The knowledge of this, however, instead of relaxing our efforts in any particular, ought, on the contrary, to hearten us all to in creased exertions for the relief of this widespread and appalling destitution, so that the number of these frightful deaths may at any rate in some measure be diminished ; so that the miseries of our suffering fellow-creatures may in some degree at least be mitigated. Every penny so applied—every effort so directed—is in its value at this moment a wholly inestimable act of bene volence. Firmly persuaded of which, we do ear nestly appeal to every one who may read these words to forward the good work in some way, however apparently trivial in itself; and if no other means for doing this should present itself to the reader's imagination, to drop but one additional mite into the corbona of Mr. DAVENPORT BROMLEY'S newly organized charitable association. There is no truth in the paragraph, published yesterday, stating that Sir John Ramsden has been ap pointed Under Secretary of State for War. Mr. Bating has succeeded Earl de Grey and Ripon in that post. Mr. Godley, Permanent Under Secretary at the War-office, has, we are glad to hear, returned to his duties in Pall-mall, after a lengthened absence caused by severe illness. ELECTION FOR PEMBORKESHIRE.—PEMBROKE, Thursday.—At the close of the poll this evening the Con servative candidate, Mr. G. Lort Phillips, had a majority of 215 over the Liberal candidate, Mr. Hugh Owen. On Wednesday two vessels, laden with cattle, from Spain, and bound respectively for London and South• ampton, put in at Plymouth, having experienced violent gales. Many of the cattle had died, and many more had been seriously injured. The total damage was estimated itt £l,OOO. . _ V • . .., A 4 . 4it , ',-, f ' \ . ' fl - 4 , 7. ~ .. Nt ' am ' i ' • - - - -'-‘iii v .1) J . ' "" s ~1 ~ THE SUN. FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 18. A Berlin letter in the Augsburg Gazette speaks of the probability of a commercial crisis in that city, and which has begun to manifest itself by numerous failures. Another letter from Berlin states that the severe cold which prevailed during the funeral of the late King caused illness among many of the persons who were pre sent. More than 200 of the soldiers who lined the streets were obliged to go into the hospital, and some of them have since died. A number of horses have also perished from the same cause. ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, GRAY'S-INN-ROAD.—At a quarterly meeting of governors, held yesterday in the board-room of the hospital, General Watkins in the chair, it was officially announced that the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, William Cubitt, M.P., had fixed on Tuesday, March 19th next, to preside at the annual dinner to be held at the Freemasons' Tavern, in support of this excellent charity. The Sheriffs, Alderman Abbiss and Mr. Lusk, with many other city gentlemen, have signified their intention of being present on the occasion to support the Lord Mayor. THE BATTALION OF ST. PATRICK.—The follow ing notice appears in the Morning News of this day :—" In reply to many letters received, Major O'Reilly begs to state that only a few medals have yet been received from Rome and given to officers. As the medals are received due notice will be given of the way in which they are to be obtained by the men. No emigrants for Italy are at pre sent required ; when such are wanted, Major O'Reilly will communicate with those who have written to him. It is not in Major O'Reilly's power to obtain for discharged men the amount of bounty unpaid at the time of the disem bodiment. Each man was furnished with a free passage home, at a cost far greater than the amount which was to be paid for four years' service." COUNTY OF ABERDEEN. The: contest for the representation of the county of Aberdeen may be said to be, for the present at an end—the Liberal candidate Sir Alex ander Bannerman, of Crimenslogate, having withdrawn. Sir Alexander, who was abroad when the vacancy, by the death of the late Earl of Aberdeen occurred, only arrived in Aberdeen on Monday, whet he found, according to his address in which ho announces his withdrawal from the contest, that his absence had been so much against him, notwithstanding his agents and friends had worked well for him, his best course would be to retire. The field is thus left to the Conservative candidate, Mr. Leslie, of Warthill. It'is understood, however, that the Hon. Arthur Gordon, the youngest of the Aberdeen family, who is a great favourite in this county, has been written to. INSUFFICIENT PREPAYMENT OF NEWSPAPERS 1 , 011. THE UNITED STATES AND CHlNA.—Owing to a dis regard of the official regulations upon the subject, which are clearly stated at pages 33 and 46 in the " British Postal Guide," No. 19, many letters addressed to the United States and Canada are posted in this country either unpaid or insufficiently paid, and are therefore not for warded, but sent to the returned letter branch for disposal. It seems tobe forgotten that such newspapers must be pre paid one penny each, whatever number may be contained in a single packet, and that the charge is not regulated by weight, as is the case with unstamped newspapers sent through the post in this country. It has also been observed that a fraudulent practice prevails, to a considerable extent, of enclosing letters or other articles in newspapers sent to or received from foreign countries, especially America, which renders them liable, as the least penalty, to be charged with full letter postage ac cording to their weight. The officers of the department are strictly enjoined to examine, as far as possible, the newspapers passing through their hands to or from foreign parts, and to enforce the official regulations wherever they may have been infringed ; and it is thought right to draw the atten tion of the public to this matter, with the view of prevent ing the occurrence of future irregularities. By command of the Postmaster-General.—ROWLAND HILL, Secretary. THE GREAT SHIP COMPANY AND JOHN SCOTT RUSSELL.—This case came before the Court of Queen's Bench on two rules obtained last term, one on behalf of the company and the other on behalf of Mr. Scott Russell. The differences between the parties having been referred to three gentlemen, civil engineers of great eminence, one of them being Mr. Hawkshaw, they had made an award de claring Mr. Russell was entitled to receive from the com pany a sum of £lB,OOO. The company, however, refused to comply with the award, on the ground that the arbitra tors had exeeeded their authority in investigating claims as to extras not within the terms of the submission, and like wise because the award was bad on the face of it, in that making it to appear that items of Mr. Russell's claims were correct by the award. Mr. Russell had been paid a sum of £119,000 ; but his total claim against the company amounted to £149,650. On the other hand the company had counter claims against Mr. Russell, principally on account of his not having fitted the ship for sea for the sum originally contracted for. The judgment of the court was that both rules must be discharged, and that Mr. Russell should be left to his remedy of an action on the award against the company. A VERY curious phenomenon—which illustrates the severity of this season in a very striking manner—has been ;recorded by naturalists as having been witnessed in the neighbourhood of Pontefract and Doncaster. It is said that the. intensity of the frost has affected the plumage of the birds in that district, and that several which have been shot have proved quite piebald. Every one who has dab- WA in artic travels—pleasant reading by a bright fireside in latitude 521—will remember that the plumage of the birds of the arctic regions is naturally colourless and white. It requires the genial warmth of sunnier climes to provide the humming-bird with its irridescent court-dress, and to clothe the parrot—that harlequin of the woods—in its brilliant motley. Just now it is Northward-Ho with our poor little English birds, and it is to be feared that as far as they are concerned the frost will finish the task of destruction which the floods of last year in the breeding time had too effectually begun. If so, we shall miss them next season ; and discover to our loss that they have another use in the economy of nature than merely to make our hedge-rows and coverts delightful with song.—Once a Week. THE SYLPHIDE SCANDAL.—The etery Tele graph has " been honoured with the subjoined communi cation from the Marquis of Downshire :"—" Royal Yacht Schooner Sylphide, Naples, Jan. 6. Sir,—The statement of what is said to have occurred on board my yacht, copied the end of last month from the Manchester Guardian into several newspapers, is false, and totally devoid of a vestige of foundation ; nor had anything occurred on board, or ashore, directly or indirectly, to give any colouring what ever for such a villanous calumny and lie. The man who forged this production, whether he be an Englishman or a foreigner, is a wilful liar and a slanderer, and I will leave no means untried to punish his audacious calumnies. Ido not, of course, know how far I might have gone, in my exasperation, had the statement been true, but this I do know, that if I catch this scoundrel, I will throw him over board ; nor will I trouble myself further about such worth less carrion.--I remain, Sir, faithfully yours, DOWNSHIRE. —To the Editor of the Newry Telegraph." THE DUNDRY MURDER.—We regret to learn that the condition of George Waterman, the husband of the woman so brutally murdered on the evening of the 9th inst., and who was himself very severely beaten, has un dergone an unfavourable change. :Yesterday morning symptoms of an alarming naturelpresented themselves, and it was feared that Waterman would not survive. The re mains of the murdered woman were interred yesterday in Dundry churchyard, in presence of a large number of spec tators. The money which has been found in Waterman's cottage, and to secure which was the presumed object of the murderers, has been handed to a nephew of Waterman, who has undertaken to invest it in some bank for his uncle's use, should he survive. A MAN KILLED AT A SHOOTING MATCH.—A shocking catastrophe happened at Malvern, Worcester shire, on Wednesday afternoon. A pigeon-shooting match was held in a field in the suburbs of that town, when three silver cups were shot for. A man named Col lins, the boots at the Unicorn Inn, was employed to place the pigeons in the trap, and had just placed a bird in that receptacle in the regular way, and was walking towards the shooters for the purpose of pulling the string and liberating the bird, when it happened to be the turn of Mr. Allflat, architect, of Malvern, to shoot, and he had cocked his gun for that purpose. As Collins was walking towards him, Mr. Allflat turned round to speak to some one near, having his hand upon the trigger, when, either from slipping on the frozen ground, or from some other cause, the hammer of the gun fell on the nipple, the gun went off, and being at the moment pointed at Collins, who was only a few yards distant, the whole charge entered his body, a great portion of it passing into the heart and lungs. With a groan the poor fellow fell to the ground, blood gushing from the wound. A surgeon was quickly in attendance, but his services were of no avail. He died almost instan taneously. Of course this awful event at once put an end to the sportS of the day. WESTMINSTER PALACE HOTEL.—This extensive structure is now completed, and will be opened to the public by the end of the month. It is a fine building, occupying an extensive frontage in Victoria-street, and overlooking the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. It is six stories high. The porch or entrance consists of an elegantly sculptured design, and the grand entrance has an opening over it to the roof, terminating in a sky-light. The galleries are lighted by side windows. The public coffee room is 90 feet long by 30 wide, the richly ornamented ceiling being supported by scagliola columns. Next to it is the dining-room, 70 feet long, with numerous reception rooms, a library, ladies' coffee-room, and smoking-rooms. The other stories comprise sitting-rooms and mites of apartments, and some 120 bedrooms and baths. The ex lent of the structure may be inferred from the fact that there are 700 rooms in all, 140 of them being occupied by the India Council. The cooking department, which already supplies the India House, is on a scale commensurate with the other departments, and the general tariff is similar to those of the Great 'Western and Euston Hotels. The hotel it is expected will be a great accommodation to persons visiting London during the Parliamentary session. Owing to the great height of the building, and the consequent tedious ascent that would have to be made to get upstairs, an ingenious contrivance in the shape of a hydraulic lift has been designed, by means of which, seated on a sofa with their luggage, visitors may ascend and descend from or to all of the six stories at pleasure. 1861. L'Ef NE \it j. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) NAPLES, JAN. 1.6, Signor Poerio has been entrusted with the formation of a new Administration. This news has produced an excellent effect at Naples. The reactionary bands in the Abruzzi have been beaten. Naples and the provinces are tranquil. VIENNA, FRIDAY. The Official Wiener Zeitung of to-day says : The violent proceeding of the Comitat of Neutra towards the Court of Justice of that Comitat, have caused the Government to oppose.energetically this evident act of sedition. According to telegraphic advices received here the Court of Justice of Neutra has, without the employment of force, been re-esta blished, and its officers have been enabled to fulfil their duties. The National Bank of Austria has declared a dividend of 28 florins, MADRID, JAN. 17. The Prince of Asturias is convalescent. The Ministry has declared in the Cortes that the statement that the officers of a Spanish vessel had given advice to the Neapolitans, as to placing their guns in a better direction, is without any founda tion. The Spanish navy has received orders to act in conformity with the policy of the Government, which is to remain neutral. COPENHAGEN, lAN. IG. The Berlingske Tidendc announces that the Minister for War has caused the whole of the infantry to be supplied with rifled muskets, and that steps have been taken to increase the num ber of horses for military purposes, and for the speedy recalling of the soldiers on furlough. The same journal also says that preparations are being made for the evacuation of the arsenal of Rendsburg. The military corps of engineers has been or dered to submit to the Government plans for the extension of the fortifications of Danenwicke and of the redoubts of Friedericia. The artillery is to receive several rifled bat- ,eries. FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAINE, JAN. 17. In to-day's sitting of the Federal Diet the two committees appointed to consider the proposition of Oldenburg submitted the following proposal : " That, as the patent of the 25th September, 1859, and the financial law of July, 1860, must be considered as illegal—they not having been sanctioned by the Estates—Denmark should be summoned to make a declaration within six weeks in reference to her fulfilment of the Pro visorium, in conformity with the resolution of the Federal Diet of the Bth March, 1860; and that, in the event of her non-compliance, federal execution should be declared against Denmark." CONSTANTINOPLE, Sax. 12. General Klapka is in the Principalities preparing for a rising in Hungary. The Danube is now closed by ice. The arms brought by the Sardinian ships are to be landed in Montenegro, whence they will be despatched to the Banat. The trials at Beyrout have been concluded. The Druse prisoners were sentenced to death, and the Turkish to exile. The Hasne Tavilis have declined, but the rate of exchange has risen, MARSEILLES, JAN. 17. Three vessels coming from Gaeta and Messina returned last night to Toulon. The Fontenoy alone remains off Gaeta. THE CALCUTTA, CHINA. AND AUSTRA LIAN MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Indus, Captain Weeks, has arrived with the above mails. The Indus brings 59 passengers, including Sir Robert and Lady Peel and Lady Jane Hay. She also brings £29,121 in specie. On the 7th instant she spoke the Masilia and the Valetta, on the Bth the Euxine, on the 9th the brig Mary, of Whitby, on the 10th the steamer Merchant. The British bark Mary Miller had gone ashore off Gibraltar. The steamer Euphrates broke her main shaft on her voyage to Car thagena. She will be towed to Liverpool by the Milan, from Gibraltar. Upwards of 2,000 merchant vessels bad been detained nearly two months in the Mediterranean by late westerly winds. They were liberated by a strong Levanter on the 11th inst. At Gibraltar exchange on London was quoted at 50Z to 501; on Paris, 529 ; o n Marseilles, 529; Genoa, 530 ; Madrid, Seville, and Valencia, at par. Freights unaltered. FRANCE. PARIS, JAN. 18. A Toulon journal announces that Vice-Admiral Charner, commander of the French naval station in the Chinese Seas, has ordered back to France the greater part of the vessels composing his squad ron. BOURSE, Jan. 17.—There has been but a very limited amount of business doing, and prices have slightly receded, on a rumour that the Bank of England have it in contemplation to make a further rise in its rate of discount. For the Account Threes are now at 67f 30e ; Mobilier, 645 f ; Orleans, 1,367 f 50c; Northern, 955 r; Mediter ranean, 898 f 75c; Austrian and Lombard, 465 f. The following were the last quotations :- 4i per per Cents . 4 . 96 80 Credit Fonder 922 50 Do end month.... 96 75 Belgian 4t 9B 25 3 per Cents Do. end month 67 25 Roman Bank Shares 2880 —1 Austrian Credit Mobilier.... 656 25 ' Spanish Threes 4B Do. Account 653 75 Home Debt . RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans Northern New ditto BBO .. 890 L9ons and Mediterranean 893 75 .. 887 50 Geneva Southern Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lombard 502 50 .. 502 50 548 75 .. 570 -- 593 75 .. 590 - 372 50 .. 370 - 467 50 .. 465 - 465 465 - NAPLES. The following is the text of Victor Emma. nuel's proclamation to the people of Naples. 11 is dated 7th inst.:— " Italians of the Neapolitan Provinces !—The cares of Government have obliged me, to my re gret, to separate myself from you. I cannot give you a greater proof of affection than that of sending you my beloved cousin, Prince Eugene, to whom I am wont to entrust the Monarchy during my absence. He will go• vern the Neapolitan provinces in my name, and with the same powers which I exercised myself, and which I had delegated to the illustrious states man who withdraws from that honourable office in consequence of the loss of a dear relative. Repose the same confidence in Prince Eugene, of which you gave me such undoubted proofs ; and, while waiting your representatives in Parliament, aid him in the task of unification which he comes to promote by your concord and civic wisdom. Europe, which for the last two years has been viewing with astonishment the great facts which are being accomplished in Italy, will learn from your conduct that the Neapolitan provinces, if they entered late into the society of their liberated sisters, are not on that account less ardent in their firm resolve to see our common country united.—Turin, Jan. 7, 1861. (Signed) " VICTOR EMMANUEL. (Countersigned) "C. CATOVR." THE WEST INDIA MAILS. • • N),L ------ SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY. The Royal Mail steamship Oneida, Capt. Bevis, with the above mail has arrived. She brings 38 passengers and 394,335 dols. in specie. She left St. Thomas on the 2d inst. and experienced head winds and heavy seas throughout the passage. The accounts from Barbadoes are favourable as regards the coming crops. Exchange on London, 30 days, was quoted 4.90 dols. The Camperdown and the Merrie England had arrived at Demerara with immigrants from Calcutta. Manufacturing operations were drawing to a close. The crops generally showed favourable results. The Jamaica markets exhibited no change in prices. Exchange on London, 90 days, 1 per cent. premium. St. Thomas continues healthy. Affairs were ranquil in Bolivia. The political news from Valparaiso is unim portant. Business was dull. Exchange, 434 d. to 43td. AMERICA. LONDONDERRY, FRIDAY The Montreal Ocean Company's steamer Anglo- Saxon, Captain Ballantine, from Portland on the sth inst., has arrived here and landed all mails. The Charleston Convention had passed a trea son ordinance making the levying of war against the State of South Carolina punishable with death. The same convention had passed an or dinance giving federal judicial power to the State courts and Congressional power to the General Assembly. It was proposed to starve out the garrison of Fort Sumter, and then to attack it on rafts. It was determined to sink the revenue cutter Har riet Lane, if she entered the harbour of Charleston. The Forts at Savannah and Mobile had been taken by the State troops. A dvices from Washington, to the 3d instant, state that the South Carolina Commissioners had returned home, disgusted with the unexpected attitude of President Buchanan. A combination was on foot to take possession of Washington, and prevent the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln as President. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, JAN. 4. This being the day set apart for humiliation and prayer all the markets were closed. NEW ORLEANS, JAN. 3. The cotton market is steady—sales, 8,500 bales ; middling, 111 c. to 12c. (Latest by Telegraph.) NEW YORK, lAN. 5. News from Charleston states that Fort Sumter had not been besieged. General Scott bad ordered all the available troops at Leavenworth to proceed to Fort 11I'llenry, near Baltimore. The City of Manchester and the Fulton have sailed for Europe, the latter taking 17,000 dolls. in specie. The stock market is dull. Illinois Central 79: ; Erie 38t- ; New York Central 78. Great indignation was arising in the Free States. The cotton market is active, and firm. Middling upland, 121 c. Breadstuffs closed with an advancing tendency. The provision market is steady. THE FRENCH INTERVENTION 42 GAETA. The Moniteur of yesterday contains the follow ing remarkable piece of special pleading, apropos of the recent remarkable interference of the French fleet in behalf of the ex-King of Naples : "The object in sending the squadron of evolu tion to Gaeta was with the object of preventing King Francis 11. from finding himself suddenly invested by land and by sea in the place to which he had retreated. The Emperor desired to give a proof of his sympathy to a Prince cruelly tried by fortune ; but his Majesty, faithful to the principle of non-intervention, which has entirely directed his conduct in regard to Italy since the peace of Villafranca, did not pretend to take an active part in a political struggle. In further prolonging this demonstration be would change its character. The presence of our Bag, intended merely to cover the retreat of his Sicilian Majesty. in a manner con formable to his position and rank, would be inter preted as an encouragement to resistance, and would become a material support. Incidents soon occurred which compelled the Commander-in-Chief of the squadron to remind not only the Neapolitans, but the Piedmontese, of the position of strict neu trality which was prescribed to him and which it was nearly impossible for him to maintain. It yet more concerned the Government of the Emperor not to accept the responsibility of such a situation, and that candid and repeated declarations should not give rise to any mistake as to the nature of in tentions. From the end of October, indeed, Vice- Admiral de Tinan did not fail to inform King Francis 11. that our ships could not remain for an indefinite time at Gaeta, idle spectators of a conflict which could only result in a yet greater effusicn of blood. The same warnings were repeated many times to his Sicilian Majesty, whose courage had so completely vindicated his honour. Mean time, the circumstances we have indicated became more serious, and desirous of reconciling the de mands of a neutral policy with the first idea of con triving a means of free departure to King Francis 11., the Government of the Emperor made itself the medium of a proposal for an armistice, which has been accepted by the two belligerent parties. Operations ceasing from the Bth of this month, hostilities will be suspended until the 19th, and upon that day Admiral de Tinan will depart from Gaeta." The folio wing are the documents establishing the Armistice : " General Cialdini, commanding the besieging army before Gaeta, to Admiral Le Barbier de Tinan. " CASTELLONE, Jan. 11, 1861. " Admiral,—l have the honour to assure you that before the close of the day of the 19th inst. there shall be on my part no act of hostility towards the place, nor any work of approach, nor any increase of the number of guns in battery, unless the place provokes me by its fire or its works. In that case I shall consider myself free from all engagements, and the cessation of hostilities will cease, also, on my part. " However, Admiral, I shall not open fire with out giving you previous notice of it. You will then be judge, and will inform his Majesty the Emperor which side has been wrong. " Be pleased to accept, &c., " CIALDINI, " General commanding the siege before Gaeta.' " General Ritucci, Governor of the Fortress o: Gaeta, to Vice-Admiral Le Barbier de Tinan. " GAETA, Jan. 12, 1861. " Admiral,—Having received the orders of his Majesty the King, my august master, I have the honour to announce to you that before the close of the day of the 19th inst. no construction of new batteries, or augmentation of those already existing, shall be proceeded with in this place, and only works of reparation demanded by circumstances shall be executed. " If, however, the besiegers should provoke us, either by increasing their batteries or by construe big new ones, it is obvious that we should remain free from all engagements. " In order to remove any false interpretation in the event of the re-opening of the fire of the place, I shall beg of you to send me, when the moment has come, one of your officers to judge upon which side is the wrong. " Be good enough, Admiral, to believe i n th e assurance of my high consideration. " ItiTucct, " Lieutenant General commanding the fortress of Gaeta." CHURCH MISSION TO ITALIANS IN LONDON.—A Church of England mission to Italians resident in the me tropolis has been opened with the sanction and approval of the Bishop of London, who has nominated the Rev. P. Leonini to conduct it. It is said that there are 20,000 Italians resident in the metropolis, An effort will be made to secure one of the City churches for the use of the inis oi9u, but no arraugemeuts have yet been completed, ,INO7.IIER GALE.-8110cKING kEIP WRECKS 0.37 THE COAST. Another serious gale from the eastward has swept the North Sea and south coast, occasioning several melancholy shipwrecks. It, commenced early on Tuesday, and continued, with more or less violence, during the night, the cold being very severe. A sad list of disasters has been received by Lloyd's agents. We append a notice of the more serious. While the gale was at its height on Tuesday, between one and two o'clock, a large French brig, called the Theodore, Captain Leblond, bound to Dieppe from the Tyne, whi c h h a d b ecome dis abled, was driven ashore at Skinuingrove, a few miles from Redcar ; and within a quarter of an hour or so after she struck, owing to the sea which broke over her and her violent bumping, she began to go to pieces. The crew, eight in number, seeing the inevitable loss of their vessel, took to the ship's boat, and in endeavouring to reach the shore was capsized, when the whole of the poor fellows, with the exception of the captain, were drowned. The master, when picked up, was in a very exhausted state. The brig speedily went to pieces, and her cargo was strewed on the coast. Several of the bodies have been cast up. A heavy loss is reported to have happened on the Roar Bank, on the east side of Dungeness. The barque Sarah Love, bound to London from St. Vincent, was making her way up Channel on Tuesday, when she went ashore on the Roar Bank and remained. The coast-guard were soon in attendance, and every effort was made to get her off, but without success. The last accounts state that her back is broken. The unfortunate ship hailed from Sunderland. Two colliers, named the Mayor, of Sunderland, and the Zephyr, of Stockton, bound to London, were wrecked on the Swin Middle-sand, two of the crew of the latter vessel perishing. The sur vivors suffered much from the severe cold, and were rescued and landed in the river Colne by the smack Queen Victoria, of Brightlingsea. Another collier, the Cockermouth Castle, bound to Dieppe from Shields, was lost on the Inner Dowseys on Tuesday night. About 20 miles north west of the Humber, the mate and crew of the collier brig Charles Henry of Sunderland, abandoned that vessel in a sinking state. She had lost her rudder and was totally dismasted. The master, John Anson, refused to leave her, and his fate is left in great uncertainty. The 'new, who took to the boat, were picked up by the collier brig Elizabeth Young of Shields, and, with the excep tion of a seaman named Lea, who was drowned, were safely landed. It is feared that some sad catastrophe has oc curred between Orfordness and Harwich. Several bags of tobacco and spices have been picked up, and some bags containing black pepper, marked "B. C. L." and "J. J. and Z." A ship's topmast, lower yard, and beams have also been east ashore. ST.ATISTIC.AL SOCIETY. A meeting of this society took place on Tuesday evening at 12, St. James's-square, at which Col. W. K. Sykes, M.P., presided. After some formal business had been transacted, Mr. L. LEVI read a paper on " The progress of the public expenditure of the United Kingdom." After some intro. ductory observations, he proceeded to show that in Great Britain from the year 1800 to 1816 there was an income of 74 millions, and a deficiency, caused by excess of expendi• tare over revenue of 231 millions. From 1817 to 1820 the income was 54 millions, and there was a deficiency of 11 million. From 1821 to 1830 the income was 55 millions, and the income and expenditure were about equal. From 1831 to 1840 the income was 51 millions, end there was a deficiency of 3 millions. From 1841 to 1850 the revenue was 56 millions ; then there was an excess of 1 million over the expenditure. From 1851 to 1859 the income was 62 millions, and the deficiency was two millions. He pointed out that whenever the expenditure had risen above a certain amount—say about 55 millions—it had been found that the revenue was insufficient to meet it. After some further remarks he directed attention to a statement of the percen tage of expenditure of this as compared with other coun tries. This percentage, he said, was in the War Interest Miscellaneous Forces. of Debt. Civil Government. United Kingdom.. 40 .. 45 .. 15 United States .... 47 .. 11 .. 42 France Prussia Russia Spain . Austria Portugal ... 26 .. 23 .. 51 In respect of the cost for war forces, ho observed he did not consider it economical to expend money on volunteer corps and thus divert persons from the ordinary channels of in dustry, but ho thought that it would not be judicious to in crease the payment of the regular troops. He thought the sum expended in maintaining the dignity of the Crown would bear fa , curable comparison with the sum expended for the like purpose in other parts of the world, but he de precated the system of paying pensions, as the country was now doing, in respect of persons such as William Penn, the Duke of Marlborough, and the Duke of Schomberg, to the successors of those persons, and thought it would be well to settle them by the payment of a sum of money, as pensions should only be for life. The expense of foreign mi ss i o ns might, he believed, be considerably reduced; and whilst he did not object to the £700,000 paid for maintenance of the courts of law, ho saw no necessity for some of the pensions to which the judges were entitled. The expenditure in re• spect of public works had increased to a wonderful extent of late years ; one great cause of this was the expenditure on account of the House of Commons, the stones of which were already crumbling to ruins, and the bell of which had never tolled. There was room for improvement, he urged, also in the distribution of the funds for the promotion of educa tion, so as to admit of the poor as well as the rich schools coming in for a fair share of support. He thought also the colonial governments ought to maintain their own military Cot. SYKES pointed out that whilst the expenditure for the country had increased, so had its wealth; he certainly could not see the necessity for much of the expenditure sanctioned by Parliament last year, for he believed that the same pluck that had preserved the country from invasion for so many years would be equally effective for the same purpose in time to come. Mr. HAYWOOD agreed that pensions should only extend to the lifetime of the pensioners, and also that the colonies should support their own military. Dr. GUY pointed out that as the country became more humane and substituted imprisonment for flogging, &c., and encouraged education and the fine arts to a greater extent, it must expect its expenditure to increase. Sir F. GOLDSMID thought there must be some explana tion wanting to show how England paid 40 per cent. for war forces and 15 per cent, for her civil service, whilst France paid N per cent. for war expenses and 43 for her civil service ; he thought something must be withheld from them that would show how this vast difference was occa sioned. Mr. RAWSON thought the centralisation that existed in France, in contradiction to the municipal system which prevailed in England, accountei to a great extent for the peculiarity referred to by the last speaker. Mr. LUAILEY said it appeared prettyclear that this coun try had not paid its way for many years ; this was a bad state of affairs, and ought to be altered. As to the colonies paying for their own military protection, they could not be expected to do so whilst Great Britain had so great an in terest in them. Mr. TAYLOR agreed with Mr. Rawson as to the cause of the difference in the expenditure in respect of the civil ser vice in France and England, and believed that the root of evil in respect of the public expenditure in this country was the national debt. Mr. NEWMARCK wag of opinion that the national debt came to them with the sanction of a great obligation, and represented the best arrangement that could be made at the time it was contracted. Professor RODGERS thought that if the colonies were made to pay the expense of maintaining armies for their protection, the result would be that they must increase their customs duties ; the effect of that step would react on this country, and cost it more than it saved by transferring this branch of the expenditure to the colonies. Mr. LEONE LEVI briefly replied, and a vote of thanks to that gentleman, for the paper he had read, terminated the proceedings. The annual report of the Port Phillip and Colo nial Gold Company, preparatory to their general meeting on the 21st inst., states that during the year 21,694 tons of quartz were crushed, which produced £29,161, leaving a profit of X 13,180. This sum added to the balance from the last accounts results in a net amount of £16,085. The mort gage debt of £5,000 has been paid off, and considerable additions have been made to the machinery and plant. The company are no longer engaged in any mining operations, having transferred their interest in the NintingbGGl Mine to the Victoria (London) Mining Company on payment of the outlay incurred. The directors abstain from recom mending any dividend at present, as, owin g t o th e p ay i ng oft of th mortgage debt and the outlay incurred in per fecting the machinery, the financial position of the com pany here would not warrant it. They therefore propose adjourning the meeting, and deferring that question until July, to enable them to receive remittances from the colony. WAGES OF THE,POOR.—The new industry that h as s prung up by tne discovery of vegetable leather is r g a great boon t o th e working classes of the impo verishedrovin district of Stepney. - While other establishments are partially closed, or wholly suspended, by the t xtreme old, Spill's manufactory is in full operation, as the demand for the vegetable gaiters, although so great hitherto, is amazingly on the increase ; and now there are no less than five thousand pers,ns, young and old, and of both sexes, whose wages average fifteen shillings per week, indirectly employed upon their production. Thus the encouragement of this peculiar branch of manufacture is an incalculable blessing to thousands who would otherwise be out of em ployment during the present fearful atmospheric visitation. I di to e 3