The Sun. — London, England, 1856-12-22 00:00:00

T HEATRE ROYAL, DRURY LANE.- -tessee, Mr. E: T. Smith. Acting st.a g er, Mr. C. Mathews. Stage Manager, Mr. J'Roxby. Scenic Artist, Mr. W. Beverley. GREATCATTItACTION for the CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. First Night of the Grand Christmas Pantomime, the most Inagnifichut.evellproduced on the English stage. The First MorniniPerformance of the Pantomime will take place on WEDNESDAY, Dec. 31, at 2 o'clock. The gi4it Comedian of the age, Mr. Charles Mathews, and a powerFul Dramatic Company. On BO.."IING-NIGHT, Dec. 26, and following Evenings, her Majesty's Servants will perform - AGGRAVATING SAM, In wLiqh, Charles - Mathews and the talented Dramatic r • Company will appear; ' Aftervhieh will be produced an entirely new and original symboliCil; hyperbolical, parabolical, and extra-physiog nomical-grotesque, statuesque, and picturesque Grand Comic Christma&Pantomime, which for:some time.past hai employed the thirivalkd.resources of this extensive establishment, and which will be called or entitled, as it is entitled to be called, SEE, SAW, MARGERY. DAW ; Or, Harreqfdi Holiday, N and the Island-of Ups and Downs. The seenery-entirely new, painted by and under the direc tion of Mr. William Beverley and numerous assistants. The machinery,by. J. Tucker and assistants. The properties, de. corationT, 'tricks, changes, and transformations by Messrs. Needhani, Glindon, &e. The masks, models, and physiog nomicat, devices designed and executed by the celebrated Dykviyukyn. The overture and music composed andarranged by Herr Anschuez. The choregraphic arrangements under the personal supervision of Vii. Petit. The comic scenes con structed by and under the direction of Harry Boleno. The peculiar' grotesque opening invented and written by E. L. Blanchard, author.of " Harlequin and the Seven Ages of Man," " Jack and Jill," " Humming Top s "."fludibras," &c., and the whole arranged and produced under the direction of Mr. Robert Roxby. Ye ancrente and truthful legend on ye which ye pantomime its story it founded "See, saw, Margaret Daw, " Sold herbed, and laid upon straw." MSS. of Nursery Rhymes in British Museum. Region,.of Reverses, in the Island of Ups and Downs. "Yea, the Great Globe itself." - " Here we go up, up, up, "Here we go down, down, down ; o' Here we go backwards and forwards, "And here we go round and round." Juvenile-Chorus of the earliest period; supposed to belong to the • One. Up, Mr. Topham ; Down, Mr. Low; Opera. box, Kid Glove, Tiger_and Brougham, and Porte-monnaie (attendants upon Up), .Si nor Lorgnette. Herr Tightfitt, Master Sancebox,, aull are ieur Chinque ; Hard Up, Dupli cate, Distraint, and Rags attendants upon Down), Mr. Friz harte, Mr. Fora, Mr. Quodham, and Mr. Patchwell. An nualappearance of Holyday in her Emblematic Car. Holyday (the Genius of the Season), Miss Marian Stanley ; Sport and Pastime (her attendants), Misses Lovelangh and Lightheart ; Dame Necessity (who is- on this occasion made a virtue of by particular desire), Mrs. Selby. How Invention, the Daughter of Necessity, is called upon to assist the developinent of the story, 'while Holyday invites both Up and Down to enjoy themselves. Holiday's Home in the Green Bower of Mistletoe and Winter Garden of the Fairies.—Mistletoe (the Fairy Queen), Miss E. Wacihana ; Fairy Spirits of the Kisses that have been given under the Mistletoe, by upwards of 100 Ladies' of the Corps de Ballet. Grand Ballet —Miss Rosina Wright, Mdlles. J. and E. Osmont, and the Co 17Phees-. The Golden Gates leatling to the Palace of Huggamugga.=Herald (with a Proclamation), Mr. Hornogold ; • Guards, Messrs. Stiffneck, Headsup, Eyesright, Shoulderarms, Stand-at-ease, and March well ; Tailor,, Mr. Broadcloth ; Cobbler, Mr. Wazsod; Black smith, Mr. Anvil ; the Princess Margery Daw (afterwards Columbine), Madame Boleno ; Shilly and Shelly (her Maids of Honour), Misses Dithery and Dothery. How Ma gory Daw has no notion of work herself, and the contempt she shows towards those who do work. Interior of the Palace of King Huggamngga. King Huggamngga (Sovereign of the Land of Sixes and Sevens), Mr. Dawking; Hurly-Burly (Lord Chancellor), Mr. Bigwig; Niminy-Piminy (the Lord Cham berlain), Mr.- Noodledom ; Higgledy-Piggledy (Goldstick in Waiting), Mr. Muddle ; other Members of the Court, Messrs. Bow, Scrape e Cringe, Crouch, Tagrag, Merrywag, Perriwig, and Hatband; Court Milliner, Madame Crinoline; Drawing Master; Profeesor Crayon ; Governess, Miss Frump ; Music Master; Signor Hurdigurdi ; Maid in Waiting, Miss Sweet temper ; Chef de Cuisine, Mr. Cook Prince Popinjay (of the Land of Prettistorv), Mr. Finefeather ; his Retinue, Messrs. Glare, Dazzle, Gleam, Glitter, and Cutashine. How the Princess is taught a wholesome lesson by Necessity, and of the 'change that takes place in consequence. Cottage of Necessity, with a Prospect of Hard Work in the Distance. The Enchanted Workbox—The Sampler and the Exemplar, and the, pretty piece of work that Margery Daw makes of it. Inhabitants of the Workbox :—Row of Pins, Messrs. Sharp, Bent, Crooked, Pinaday, Groatayear, &c. ; Regiment of Needlei (ready drilled), Messrs. Largeeye, Smalleye, Longsix, Splitup, Snapoff, &c. ; Thimble, Master Tom Thumb ; Worsted, Mr. Bawlaway ; Bodkin, Mr. Pierce ; Tape Mea sure, Mr. Inchbald; Hook nod Eya, Messrs. How and Some bodyelse ; Shirt Buttons, Mr. Elypurly ; Scissors, Mr. Shearstieel. How Margery Daw makes an important discovery and theaudienee also, and how, led by Necessity, she is com pelled to alter her opinions and change her position. The Mine of Labour, leading to the Mine of Wealth.—Labour (the Parent of Health, Wealth, and Happiness), Mr. Strong'i'th'arm. What Margery Daw goes to see, what she saw, and the re ward that Holyday bestows. Grand Scenic and Mechanical Eifects: , ethibiting (in process of construction) the Fairy Fac tory ofFancy, completed with the assistance of Labour and Imagination. Brilliant Tableau. The Transformation :—Two Harlequins, Herr Deulin and Signor Veroni ; two Sprites, the Brothers Elliott ; two Pantaloons, Mr. Barnes and Mr. G. Tanner; two Clowns, Messrs, Harry Bolen() and Flexmore ; the Gent, Mr. Halford ; two Columbines, Madame Bolen() and Miss Honey. The. Ups and Downs of the Harlequinade, showing the Ins and Outs and Turns About of the Pantomime Rally ; Toy Warehouse, Butcher's and Baker's Shop (Bolenos, Deulin, Tanner, and Raiford).— A pink of polite ness—Clown very toyish—Getting a nutcracker, which turns out a nobby toy—First and last toys for gambling—Marbles versus dice—Despatches, loaded, and off they go —Harlequin takes a private box—Clown takes Chattertou's situation as boxkeeper—Kite-flying — A game of Cricket, by which some of the players get bowled out, and 'afterwards stumped, which turns out a long stop—The uses and abuses of the crin oline—A Jack in the box—A box of regular British toys and a basket of French bread (bricks)—Aklershott a size smaller —Grand review of infantry—A military ball—Going in for a buster—Coming out with a roll—Clown make a peel to baker's feelings—List, oh, List—Squaring a round of beef= Clown takes a steak and gets a chop in return—Pantaloon tries hie hand at a game and loses by it —Cut and come again —Clown takes a butcher's shop, which Harlequin makes too hot to hold him. Tailor's Shop and Perfumery. Warehouse (Ve. roni, Barnes, and Honey). A gentleman in search of a tailor— A suit that is quite the ticket—The Gude wrapper—Railway wrappers—Transfer depot—Washing machine--extraordinary— Somethingthat won't wash-- Cleaned ont--Scent in and sent out Foreigyn versue. English • toothpowder Hungary water—A Frangipani bouquet—Wonderful effocts of tire Pistachio nut- Powder—A case of real distress—Pantaloon in a fix —Fur nished} Apartments for Single Men (Bolenos, Deulin, anti Tanner).—Clown and Pantaloon in high life—A domestic re voluter —Turning the tables—To bed, to bed—A drop too much—Clown nowbegins to reflect —The lOoking-glass follows his example -=Two heads better than one—Me - en takes a turn on the sofa, which also takes a turn on its own account— Multiplication altercation, which ends with a regular row in the house. Judkia's Gas-regulating Machine and General Patent Office and Stationer's Shop (Veroni, Barnes, and Honey.)—Clown, being in Fleet-street, goes the pace rather fast—The language of the eyes (I-taliau of course) which everybody understands—Bath post versus London post—Re gulators Wanted : railway regulators, army regulators, gas regulators, smoke regulators—Sewing, cutting, washing, pressing, and ironing done by a turn—Clown makes a shift which makes Pantaloon a little shirty —A box of common scents—A fresh supply of blacks from America—A Dred-ful scene *ensues. Mechi's Model Farm (Bolenos, Dean and Tanner )—Harvest-hone —A rakish dance by rustic lads and lasses —The milky way—Harlequin makes a pump of himself —A strong smell of game—A farm-yard visitor—Clown finds the Pig a very great bore—Pantaloon finds tho dog gets g re ati7 attached to him —Prize Poultry—Cochin China and c ° ll e l in England —Novel hatching—The old mail—Full in side—Clown tr by Roket—te o the Express and Pantaloon by, the Kin appin's Cutlery and Shilling Razor Warehouse, g W illiam -street, City (the whole of the double compiny will to take a bt, appear in this scene.)—Pantaloon proposes a—Present and future—Weight of public opinion —A diets f l the fool ineete feel eh better—The people's own bus—When smash, and aui r comes the tug of fun—Collision, crash, —A pair e e Garotte preventive = Moustache move meet for cutlery4P blades—Clowns (prove themselves a °noway stopped by Holloway's oint ment—The duel--Je. cut direct—Forewarned; forearmed— Public nuisances of le e ee___ oh a regiilar blow up, 344 my Crinoline—A high wind, Downs in Holiday's F a i re gnous termination to Ups and The reduced prices e • throughout the house to suit every one : ___, ( s , varyin g tlee. alleries, ed. and ls. ; • Second Circle of Boxes, is. Stalls, ss. 2s. ; Dress Boxes, n ,..` p : ; First Circle of Boxes, V. 14., if. 115. 6,1' ; Private Boxes, • and 2/. 2s. ROYAL LYCE IT IA -----"'"'—''''—"-- Lessee, Mr. e. Dillon. THEATRE. On BOXING NIGHT, December 2q , entirely new and original combination of w b ill be produced an tomime, entitled burlesqu e and pan- CONRAD AND 3IEDOR A.; I • or, Harlequin Corsair and the Little Fairy at „ the Sea.. The burlesque opening by w. t he Bottom of founded upon the ballet of Le Corsair, as p rod T"Zh, Bsq., Ma. eed a t H ,sty's Theatre. The harlequinade upon till . er things m , ral. Th e new and magnificent scenery painted b ,elle- Y lir. F. Fenton. Characters in the opening : Conrad (the Corsair) Miss Woolg ar Birbarto (his lieutenant) Mr. J. L. Toole Seyde Pasha Mr. Barrett sing Smaul ... Mr. Holston , Yussiff Medora Mrs. Charles Dillon Gulnar Zuliem Mrs. Melville • Submarina...(her first appearnce) Miss Jessie Ryder Serena Miss Marie. Wilton Clowns Mr. Tom Matthews and Mr. H. Marshall Pantaloon Mr. Stilt . Harlequin . ~. Columbine Miss Clara Morgan On Boxing Night, %nd on Saturday, Dec. 27, the historical play of WILLIAM TEI4Ir will comigence the performances. p Zani Tell, Mr. C. Dillon. A Morning Performance of the _ omirne every Saturday, at 2 O'clock, commencing o n Sa t_u_TaY, Dec. 27. The box-office open daily, from 11 to 5, Lin ter thesuperintenflence of Mr. Chatterton, jun. ROYAL pßlNcEss's THEATRE. TRIS EVENING (Monday, Dec. 22), will be presented Shakspeam's play of A MIDSUMMER DR,t44 . _ A fter at t before th e Ch r i s t mas H o lid ays. A which,,TETE OIiSICAN BROTHERS. Fabien and Loui dei Franchi, •C. Kean. •MencleLsoiohrai ceiebraterl overture to A Midsummer Nigitt'g Dream Will commence at 5 minutes before 7. R OPAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. Alfred Wigiri. 'PHIS EVENING, WIVES AS THEY WERE AND ARE. Messrs. Addi son; G . Vining ; MAIDS THEY" Mrs. Stirling AS , Misses Swanbor ongh and H er b ert. After which; CRINOLINE. And: the new, farce, JONES THE AVENGER. Messrs. r,z Robson, J. Rogers, and Miss Marston. Commence at half-past Seven. ROYAL SURREY THEATRE Lesclees, Messrs. Silep*d.iail Cr eswick. THIS EVENING, HAMLET. Hamlet, Mr. Creswiek ; Ghost, Mr. B. Potter ; Ophelia, Miss Biddies. Followed by the Fillis Family. Afte which, THE WAITER AT CRE3IORNE. li ft iii ti il 1 . 4 d • LONDO N, iiii ONDAY L E ER MAJESTtS - P EAT-RE.-M. JULLIEN'SANNUAL BAL MASQUE, IVES EVENING (Monday, December 22.) - M. ..T.ILLIEN has the honourto announce that h is GRA N D ANNUAL BAL MASQUE will, this year, take place at her Majesty's Theatre, _on Monday (To-night), December 22. Under ordinary circumstances, M. Jullien would have felt that the patronage • hitherto bestowed on his Annual Enter tainment, and the general satisfaction evinced on every occa sion, rendered it unnecessary for him to add one word to the mere announcement of the Ball. A recent event, however, Makes it imperative on hith to draw the attention of his kind patrons to the fact, - that after 17 years of constant-labour and care," he has succeeded- in transforming the trivial entertain ment, formerly"known as the " Masquerade," into the mag nificent Fete of the Bal Masque, and in placing it on a level with those given in the largeit establishments of Europe—at the Academie Imperiale of Paris, - the Imperial Theatres of St. Petersburg-an&Vienia,".•sind- the Theatre Royal. of Berlin -1 Fetes which the-Sovereigns of those capitals do not, disdain to honour - with their presence:. Having thus raised the cha racter of those Entertainments, M. Jullien is satisfied that the public will not hold hiin responsible for the ill-directed efforts of plagiarists and imitators. M. Jullien's Bal Masqu6 will be given this year with the same splendour as before, and will take place at her Majesty's Theatre—an establishment already famous for the magnificent Balls which have, under the. most distinguished patronage, been giien within its walls. M. Jullien feels confident that this, his Seventeenth Bal Masque in England, will, for bril liancy and splendour, have never been equalled. The Orchestra will eomprise one hundred and ten musi cians. Principal Cornet-a-pistons —Herr Koenig and M. Duhem. Conductor—M. JULLIEN. The newest and most fashionable music will be played, in cluding several new polkas, waltzes, and quadrilles, composed expressly by M. Jullieu for his concerts, and for this occasion. The dances will be regulated by fourteen Maitres des Ceremonies, whose arrangements will be strictly carried out. No one will be admitted except in evening dress or fancy colltltme. The whole theatre will be ornamented by a new and superb decoration. Mr. Nathan, of Castle-street, Leicester-square, has been appointed Costumier to the Bal. Harlequins, Clowns, and Pantaloons not admitted. TWEETS FOR THE BALL, 10s. 6d. The prices of admission for spectators (for whom the audi ence portion of the theatre will be set apart) will be-- Dress Circle Gallery Stalls 2s. 6d. Gallery Private boxes from 3i. 3s. and upwards. Persons taking Private Boxes will have the privilege of passing to and from the ball room without extra charge. Tickets for the ball, places, and private boxes may be secured at the box-office of Her Majesty's Theatre ; of the principal librarians andmn,sicsellers ; and at Messrs. Jullien and Co.'s, 214, Regent-street. The doors will be opened at Half-past Nino, aid the Danc ing commence at Half-past Ten. Refreshments will be supplied during the evening, and at One o'clock the supper will be served. THEA.TRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. THIS EVENING, will bo performed Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton's comedy of MONEY. The cha racter of Evelyn by Mr. Murdoch; Sir John Vesey, Mr. Chippendale ; Mr. B. Stout, M.P., Mr. Buckstone ; Sir Frederick Blount, Mr. W. Farren ; Graves, Mr. Compton ; Lady Franklyn, Miss Talbot ; Georgian, Mrs, E. Fitz wil- Ram ; Clara Douglas, Miss Reynolds. After which, the STAR OF ANDALUSIA, when Perea Nena will appear for the last time in this Spanish Ballet in which she first appeared before the Haymarket audience. Followed by (last two nights) A FAMILY FAILING, in which Mr. Buckstone and Miss Blanche Fane will appear. To conclude with the GALICIAN FETE. Commence at Seven. On Friday and Saturday THE HONEYMOON ; and the Haymarket Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE BABES IN THE WOOD, or Harlequin and the Cruel Uncle. MHEATRE ROYAL, A DEL PHI. 1 Genuine Success.—Unprecedented Attrac tion.---Last Two Nights before the Holidays of Janet Pride and the grand New Fairy Ballet Extravaganza, THE ELVES, in which Madame Celeste will appear as the Statue Bride.— Mr. B. Webster as Richard Pride and Mr. Wright as Dickey Trotter. THIS EVENING will be performed the celebrated (12ama of JANET PRIDE. Messrs. B. Webster, Wright, Paul Bedford, C. Selby, Parselle, Garden, Bland; Mesdames Celeste and. M. Keeley. After which, with new scenery and appointments, the new fairy ballet extravaganza, oalled THE ELVES, or the Statue Bride, founded on the grand ballet spectacle, now perform. ing with unexampled success at the Theatre Imperiale de I'Opera at Paris, under the title of Les Elfes. Principal cha racters by Madame Celeste, Misses Wyndham, Mary Keeley, Kate Kelly, Chatterly, Arden, Messrs. Wright, Paul Bedford, C. Selby, Le Barr, &c. Commence at Seven. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. .111. - Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. A NEW GRAND EQUESTRIAN PANTOMIME FOR BOXING NIGHT. THIS EVENING, Shakspeare's Tragedy of MACBETH, with Mr. W. Cooke's Equestrian Illustrations, Macbeth, Mr. James Holloway. After, which, the inimitable Equestrian SCENES in the CIRCLE, To cowhide with Entertainments of Novelty and Variety. Doors open at half-past six ; commence at seven o'clock. Pox-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage ➢tanager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. A.NTERBIT RY HALL, Westminster-road. — OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of Selections from all the popular Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Duets, dm., viz.: —Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, Miss Brunell, and Miss Summers ; Mr. J. Caulfield, Herr F. Jonghmans, R. Grover,. T. Raino, T. Farrant, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, and P. Cowie ; Masters Austin, Ben nett, and Corn; Mr. Sam Cowell and E. Mackney. Piano forte, J. riarroway, R. A. ; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun. ; director, Mr. J. Cattlfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre aisely. Suppers; &e., until twelve o'clock. In addition to the usual Vocal Entertainment, the celebrated SPANISH WINSTRELS will, appear in costume at Nine and Eleven o'clock Every Evening, and sing some of their &vomit selec tions. WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Unis DAT—Morn. 5 min. aft. 9 —Evening 26 min. aft. 10 M-7_4o2now—Morn. 37 min. aft.lo—Evening 27 min. aft 11 TAE WE ATHER—SuN 0 rnoz, DECEMBER 21. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 51—highest sinee noon yesterday. 48—lowest this morning and during the night. 49—this day at noon. IIArtOMETER, 30 47—falling. WIND, W. to W.S.W.L-Light,with - dull weather. DECEMBER 22. 49 —highest since, noon yesterday. 47--`nwest this morning and during the night. 49—tTAFI day at noon. L'Alowvnim, 30 . 06—still falling rapidly. WIND, Westerly.—Light, with dull weather. • §Atll, L )NDON, MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1856. FREDERICK WILLIAM still indulges in the "King CAMBYSEs vein." "On dreadful thoughts intent," he is resolved to carry fire and sword into the Swis Cantons, to devastate their fair pro vinces, and, for the gratification of a mere per sonal pique, to enkindle the torch of war in the heart of Europe. During the Russian difficulty he "roared you like any sucking dove." His benevolent disposition could not tolerate the notion of bloodshed, although he fully recognised the justice of the cause in which the Allied Powers were engaged. He felt that " the blood of Germans could only be shed in the cause of Germany," and deliberately abdicated the high position to which he had previously aspired as one of the Great Powers of Europe. But now all this is altered. He fancies that because he is deprived of a spare feather in his cap of state-- as he cannot describe himself as Sovereign of Neuchatel, he may blatently bellow " havoc, and let slip the dogs of war," and that every other nation is bound to sympathise with the imaginary grievance. These indications would not be very formid , able, were it not for the support which has so unexpectedly and unwisely been accorded to his pretensions by Lours NAPOLEON. AS we have already stated, the bark of "ClicT,tor is notoriously worse than his bite, and the diffi culty would hav e passed away, with a little diplo matic y ap "ring, but for French intervention. As in parochial rows, the man vociferating for silence is usually the most noisy in the assembly, the pretended Peacemaker is, in the present in stance, the most formidable disturber. The Angel of Peace wo iritlidfindeasivlyanihtyave been a ppeased. H niois . s peedily be forgotten, and would ff the steam speedily have blown O. E ut, unfortunately, had appealed to the g ood. ° Mena of France. The compliment had been duly a ppreciated, and the officious interference havi ng been rejected by Switzerland, the indignation of th e EMPEROR burst forth, not in consequence of the wrongs of Prussia, but of the disregar d of his ow, influ ence and power. Prussia, in appealing t o F rance, exhibited "a courteous deference to her political situation," while the temperate assertion of Rel. votian independence is described as "a lamentable obstinacy, an exaggerated susceptibility, and a complete indifference to French counsels !" , j But why were the authorities bound to exhi.i.i! bit any extraordinary subserviency either to France as a nation, or Louis NAPOLEON as a man ? He at least could put forward no shadow of right. To use a legal phrase in hyegone days, when special pleading prevailed, his claim "wanted colour." There was not a single scin tilla jurtis. He was a mere volunteer, and should recollect the fate of those who intrude into matters where their aid is not required. " They who in quarrels interpose, Must ofttimes wipe a bloody nose." Louts NAPOLEON should profit by the lesson con veyed by the old English satirist, and avoid a dispute, in which he is in no way concerned. If we are to judge from the article in the Moni teur, he would, had the Swiss duly bowed before the Imperial will, and declared that " to hear was to obey," have felt it "an obligation on the part of France to prevent any armed conflict, and exert itself to obtain from the King of PRLIS siA a final settlement of the question, conform able to the wishes of Switzerland." The " rage of the cruel JvNo," the insult to her " despised beauty," was nothing to this. Because there was " a complete indifference to French counsels," "Switzerland must not be astonished if, in the course of events, she should no longer find that good-will which she might so easily have obtained at a trifling sacrifice !" For this truth and justice are to be dis regarded, and the " might " of France cast into the scale with those who strive to overcome the " right" of Helvetia Never was there so grievous a blunder committed by a public man. Never was the flimsy disguise, usually assumed, so unhesitatingly cast aside. He sees what is just and right, but unhesitatingly casts it aside. " Video meliora proboque deteriora sequor." He could restore peace, but in place of so doing he fans the flame and aggravates the difficulty. This is neither wise nor generous. It is the wrath of a petty squire rather than that of a great monarch. It shows where " the lamentable obstinacy, the exaggerated susceptibi lity really exist." " Oh wad some power the gif tie g;:e us, To see ourselves as others see us, It wad frae moray a trouble free us, And foolish notion." Louis NAPOLEON might have learned prudence from the Scottish bard. Honest Ron BURNS would have proved his best counsellor in the case —would, if attended to, have prevented an ex- plosion of petty spite that renders the term, "NAPOLEON the Little," once applied, not alto gether inappropriate. If, however, the approach ing Conferences, to which we must submit with the best possible grace, be good for anything they will appease this " storm in a washing-tub," and prevent the effusion of blood in a quarrel so paltry and contemptible on the part of Prussia and France, so just and righteous on that of the Swiss Confederation. There is no alternative, so far ss the Swiss are concerned. They must manfully assert their rights, or for ever relinquish their cher ished independence. If any discontented citip zen can with impunity set the laws at de fiance and raise the standard of revolt, there can no longer be peace or order in their territories. FREDERICK WILLIAM tacitly assented to the existing state of affairs. He cannot be permitted to enforce vi et armis the liberation, without trial, of the offenders. Admiral Sir HOUSTON STEWART—honourably known of late by his conduct in connection with the Black Sea Fleet, and famous once upon a time as the Captain HomsTox STEWART of the Benbow—was glorified on Friday last by the citizens of Greenock through the medium of a grand public banquet given at their town-hall in his honour, in recognition of his services, and in felicitation to him upon his new and very respons ible appointment. The occasion passed off precisely in the way that might have been anti cipated. With numerous Toasts; plentifully "buttered ;" with a great deal of enthusiasm ; and a vast amount of Compliment, the gallant guest of the evening received on all hands what he very well deserved—the heartiest applause in allusion to the past—in reference to the present the sincerest congratulations—and in regard to the future the most affectionate good wishes and the most fervent God-speed ! It was not forgotten that Captain HOUSTON STEWART took a conspicuous part in the ever-memorable destruction of St. Jean d'Aere by Sir ROBERT STOPFORD--aDy more than it was lost to remembrance how effectually and energetically, during the course of the late war with Russia, Admiral HOUSTON STEWART presided at Malta over the interests of the trans port-service facilitating the passage eastwards, from day to day, of thousands of troops, with their baggage and ammunition. It was observed, moreover, in explanation of the somewhat inglo rious maritime campaign subsequently made by Sir H. STEWART under Sir EDMUND LYONS, that their immense fleet had unfortunately one want— "the want of a foe"—the great Russian fleet having been sunk, at the first outbreak of the war, in the impregnable harbour of Sebastopol. Apart entirely from the very comprehensible, and also in a great measure, be it said, the really justifiable compliments lavished upon their gallant Guest of Friday, the 19th instant, by the Citizens of Greenock, through the speeches of the after dinner orators, and the plaudits with which those speeches were received—flowery eulogiums were squandered about by the Chairman and his asso ciates with the most prodigal evidence of an egre gious want of discrimination. Not merely were the " Memories of the Heroes who fell in the last War" duly honoured, and the " Services of Miss FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE, and. the Lady Nurses " gracefully recognised—but all sorts of personages, great and small, all sorts of events, successful and the reverse, all sorts of achieve inents, honourable and dishonourable, were raunted to the skies and greeted with acclama tiions. In proposing the toast of her MAJESTY'S Ministers, for example, the Chairman of the night —Provost HUNTER, of Greenock—declared amidst g eneral applause, that " the present Government d eserved the thanks of the country for the energy they displayed in bringing the late War to a suc cessful termination !" M'CALLUM MORE—other -arise his Grace the Duke of ARGYLL---ill re t urning thanks on behalf of himself a nd his colleagues, alluded to the acceptance of t hat peace by the English people and the English Parliament in these terms—" Let me tell you indeed we needed to be informed of the fact] that never in this country was there so much of the good sense and public spirit of its people so nobly put forth." Nay, while Sir ARCHIBALD ALISON —always fond of the heroics, and having an e: ;pedal talent at all times for describing things hr. superlatives—while Sir A.RCIIIBALD ALISON spoke on Friday night of the names of Bala kl ava and Sebastopol taking their place with farathon and Thermopylae in the annals of military glory ! he added that the navy, at the same time, had discharged the duty committed to it with a prudence, courage, and magnanimity that "had never been exceeded," and which, said he, " History would place beside the •glories of the Nile and Trafalgar I" Pretty " tall talking" that, as Brother Jonathan would say—a piling of it up rather rao-uutaiuously More, to our taste, we must honestly confess, was the cha racteristic-fashion in which_ Sir HOU3T_QN in his turn, alluded to the warlike spirit of our mercan tile population upon great emergencies—when he said—" England, generally speaking, was a com mercialnation, unlike those who made war their glory and occupation : but when the row began they shut their shops." As ill luck would have it, however, in the latest instance of a row of this kind—on taking the shutters down again, we have had to make rather a considerable haul upon the till. Without very much of the compensation spoken of so boastfully by Sir ARCHIBALD -at any rate on the part of the great national ser vice ! Nevertheless—if the Royal Navy did just next to nothing during the late struggle, either through lack of a foe, or through lack of a way to ferret that skulking foe out—we have still a matchless maritime force, and gallant tars enough and to spare—not the least gallant among these our gallant tars being the honoured Guest of Greenock on Friday evening, Admiral Sir Hous- TON STEWART, the newly appointed Commander in-Chief of the British war-ships in the American waters. " Too late !" "Too late 1" says the Times. The Chancellor of the Exchequer made April fools of you in the spring, and fools you must continue till April, 1858. " Better late than never," we reply. We bargained for sixteenpence in the pound, as we understood, till April, 1857. If we pay it afterwards we deserve the cap and bolls. But we shall certainly try which is master—we or GEORGE CORNEWALL LEWIS. If he be not ready to make his Income Tax bearable, we know who is. We have the consolation so freely prof fered to disappointed lovers, and with all due respect for the Edinburgh Reviewer, if he does not review the tax to our satisfaction, we had much rather have BENJAMIN DISRAELI, Esq., and an amended tax, than Sir GEORGE and his intoler able weight with him. We are so mercenary that the dowry of a lighter, better adjusted tax would console us for all the charms of our present love. We advertise the Chancellor of the Exchequer, therefore, that he is to have an agitation whisk all the blandest suggestions of the Times, and all his own pressing necessities, and all the heavy metal of his discourses, can never put down. The Income Tax was " lynched" at the close of the long war ; it was " lynched," at least the aug mentation of it was, when Sir CHARLES WOOD tried it on. If Sir GEORGE desires to witness another repetition of the ceremony let him perse vere. We can guarantee him the treat. Should he not like it when he sees it, he can either walk out of his tax or his office, as suits his convenience. We can assure him of the people's entire indiffer ence on that score. How long is the period of Fiscal gestation, or incubation to last ? We are told the amount "is necessary for the Chancellor of the Exchequer's financial arrangements." We wonder who told our contemporary so ? We suppose there is but one person who fully knows the stage of development which the embryo budget has reached. Has he told the delicate fact to a professional gentleman whose assistance may be desirable in the hour of the Chancellor's sorrow ! We have all known new fiscal " arrangements" adjusted in a few weeks, a month or two at most ; and we fancy that if Sir GEORGE be put on his mettle he can have an alternative ready is no long time. We take another anti a very common view of " neces• sity," to wit, that it is the mother of invention ; and perhaps there is hardly a class of officials who more need such an aid to invention than mediocre Chancellors of the Exchequer—gentlemen of the COaNEWALL LEWIS and CHARLES WOOD class. Their hereditary sin is to repose at ease on any tax the people will let them have in quiet ; there they lie—you would think them paralytics—upon it till—like persons we have seen in the street at the approach of the police,—so they, at the approach of an indignant people,—quietly take up their traps and walk off. But, after all, we shall have a few millions more of national debt. So bs it then. We prefer that to paying elevenpence in the pound more Income Tax in 1858 than we were fated to bear by Mr. GLADSTONE'S Act of June, 1853. According to that Act next year we were to have paid but five pence in the pound, and to have paid that amount till 1860, and not, as the Times erroneously states, till "April, 1858, unless the tax be revived by another war." Now that differeuce between five pence and sixteenpence we, like the " premature agitators" at publio meetings, cannot endure in patience, though only for another year. We re gard that elevenpenee in the pound as an odious swindle. We meant to pay it one year after the war. We decline to pay it any longer. The Minister played with loaded dice when he intro duced the cheating word " ratification" into his Act ; 'and, as in the late SIDEBOTTONI case, we re fuse to honour a bill, even if we have accepted it, when it was drawn by one who had taken us in. ii/e knew when he could get the ratification ; we did not. We confounded it with signing the Articles of Peace. When first challenged by him as to our debt, we stood amazed at the cunning of the trick. One year's debt for fair play was then becoming due. We thought only of meeting that, and half overlooked the other ; but now the other bill is becoming due, like Mr. SIDEBOTTOM, we bethink ourselves. Having paid prodigiously to the reckless wasters of our money for two or three years, we scan the bill a little closely—we remember that it was got by a Treasury trick — we repudiate the transaction--let the sharper bring an action against the tax-payers if he please —we will meet him in the House. We ask, is not this the sentiment of every honest English man ? As to the inherent unfairness of the Income Tax, we might refer our readers, if need could be, to the elaborate picture of its injustice to every individual drawn by the Times itself. It wore utterly unreasonable to sup pose that a whole country would consent to be squeezed in that way to save trouble to any Heaven-born Chancellor whatever. Every one feels that he is wronged somewhere. Every one, besides the amount of money, has something to resent. This is about the worst that can be said for any tax. Let Manchester grumble as it likes, no Custom-house or Excise duty ever levied has created such a deep feeling of wrong as the Income Tax. The very man who pays on his exact in come is wronged, because others do not. Better far submit to a little enhanced price for some luxury, to a direct tax for a dog, or a carriage, a something not absolutely necessary, to anything, rather than to living thus under an Income-tax har row all our lives, and one with teeth, too, more than three times their proper length, if Sir G. C. LEWIS is to have his way. There is one unmiti gated evil in an Income Tax not half enough noticed. The clerk with 1001. or 1501. a-year may just pay his way, and look decent in the count ing-house or the church—if he have no family. If he have many, or if he have half-a-dozen children, he is almost a beggared man —indefinitely poorer than the other. Yet he must pay the ruinous tax—to him absolutely ruinous. He has no means of economising. If luxuries only are taxed, hard though it may be, he can do without them. it 44 rift C.- In WEI - 00 • Ng. TiAba. He can sacruice animal gra,tification to external respectability—but under an Income Tax like ours he cannot evade the merciless infliction. In a word, au Income Tax is almost the only tax whioh compels the man who is relatively poorer than the agricultural labourer to pay it. If it be continued in any shape, the first 1501. of auy man's income ought to be exempt. The Duchess of Atholl has arrived at the St. George's Hotel from Windsor Castle. The Earl and Countess of Lichfield have left the St. George's Hotel for their seat in Staffordshire. Lady Macdonald has left the St. George's Hotel to take her turn as Lady in Waiting to the Queen at Windsor Castle. Lord Vernon has left the St. George's Hotel. Lady Margaret Beaumont gave birth to a daughter, on Friday last, at the' family mansioc in Piccadilly. Her ladyship and the infant are going on favourably. Sir Charles Wood left London on Friday for his seat, Hickleton Hall, near Doncaster. Lord Granville succeeds the Earl of Burlington as Chancellor of the University of London. The Daily News, Sun, Morning Advertiser, and Atlas were seized at the Paris Post-office yesterday. Durham Cathedral is shortly to be lighted with gas. The Indian mail, which arrived on Saturday from Alexandria, Malta, and Gibraltar, has brought 20,8861. The demand for gold in payment for silver continues on a moderate scale, and on Saturday about 20,0001. was taken from the Bank for exportation. Lord Palmerston lately granted to Mrs. Laurie—the widow of the author of the well-known work on Foreign Exchangss and other subjects connected with commerce —lOO/. from the Royal Bounty Fund, The specie arrivals of the week, including the gold by the Persia on Saturiay, have amounted to about 500,000/. The exports, exclusive of 480,0001. of silver to India, are estimated at about 100,0001. The Commissioners for inquiring into the changes for superannuation, and the deductions from the salaries of the civil servants of the Crown, have appointed Mr. Maitland secretary to the examiners of civil service, to act as secretary to their commission. ME LATE GALES.—Last summer the Elder Brethren of the Tri❑ity House erected on the Rundle Stone, at considerable expense, an iron beacon and mast, sur mounted by a ball fixed about 30 feet from the base. During the recent severe gales the whole fabric disap- geared. THE EXPENSE OF THE PUBLIC DEBT.—Last year the expense of the public debt was 28,112,825/. The inte rest alone was 23,138,0611. THE OFFICE OF COMMON SERGEANT —Another meet ing of the friends of Mr. Bodkin was held on Friday at the Guildhall Coffee-room, for promoting the learned gentleman's election. Resolutions, in conformity with the objects of the meeting, were passed unanimously. M. JULLIEN'S MUSICAL TOUR.—During M. 'Yullien's provincial tear, which commences at Liverpool on Fri day next, under the direction of Messrs. Cramer, Beale, and Co., Madame Gassier will, for the first time, intro duce Paganini's celebrated variations on the " Carnaval of Venice," which have been arranged expressly for her by Mr. Benedict. The remarkable vocal powers of Madame Gassier will enable her, in this very interesting novelty, to produce an effect which perhaps no other singer of the present day could accomplish. CRYSTAL PALACE.—The sixth of the Crystal Palace Winter Conoerts took place on Saturday, Madame Rudersdorff singing for the fourth time the very pleasing ballad, " Weel may the Boatie row," as also the scena and aria from "Faust," " Die Stillenacht entweicht," and "Ben Z) ridicolo" of Raudegger. Madame Ruders dorff sang the various passages with considerable effect, and was highly applauded. Signor Andreoli again dis ' played his great powers arid musical abilities in the performance of Mendelssohn's concerto for the piano in G Minor, and M. Viotti Collins elicited deserved applause for Paganini's " La Clochette." SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—The directors of this company, on the announcement of Redpath's frauds, though they go into a rigid scrutiny of their books and accounts at the end of every half-year, and had no reason to suspect anything wrong, closed the books at the end of November, and instituted a rigid examination into every department, including the transfers and registra tion, ordinary and preference shares, with the debentures, the whole comprehending some 5,600 accounts. The labour, of course, was exceedingly great, but the result repaid them with a confirmation, to a penny, that all was right.—lTerapatls. CENTRAL GAS CONSUMERS' COMPANY.—An extraor dinary general meeting of the sharehold e r s o f this cora• pany was held at the London Tavern, to consider the propriety of the company proceeding to Parliament, in conjunction with the City Gas Light and Coke Com pany, at the next session, to solicit a bill for the amalga mation of the two companies. A resolution was unani mously passed to the effect that the amalgamation ought to be adopted on the terms proposed by the City Com pany if the proprietors of the Central Company were to come in as preference shareholders at 10 per cent. LEGIMENTAL DOG OF THE 42D ROYAL HIGHLANDERS. —The noble Newfoundland dog, which for a number of years has been attached to and followed the 42d Royal Highlanders, died in Stirling Castle, on Wednesday morning. "Captain," as he was called, was a great favourite of all the officers and men of the regiment, and he is in reality " much regretted." He belonged origi nally to Dr. Laird, of the Naval Hospital in Bermuda, and when the 42d was stationed there in 1847 he attached himself to the regiment, and no persuasions, threats, or even blows, would induce him to leave them and rejoin his master. The worthy doctor seeing the attachment the animal had conceived for the tartan, generously made a preseat of him to the regiment, and he has with the most, unflinching fidelity remained by them ever since.—North British Mail. THE REPRESENTATION OF GREENWICH.—About 500 signatures have now been attached to the requisition in course of signature at Greenwich to Lieutenaut-General Sir William Codrington to offer himself as a candidate for the seat vacated by Mr. Rolt, and they include the names of all classes of the electors. It was stated in our impression of Friday that a majority of 30 published names appended to the requisition of Mr. Sleigh, the only candidate now in the field, though it purported in specific terms to emanate from electors of the borough, were not upon the electoral register now in force. That statement was made upon the best evidence—that of the register itself. Mr. Sleigh has been pleased to deny this in the most positive terms; but, notwithstanding his denial, it remains an actual, patent, and incontrovertible fact, of which auy man may be satisfied who will take the trouble, as the writer has done, to examine the register for himself. It was added that some of the voters who did sign had since the announcement that Sir W. Codring tun was about to declare himself a candidate requested to withdraw their names from Mr. Sleigh's requisition. That also was literally true. Mr. Sleigh, however, in his letter, dated on Friday last, which appeared in this journal on the following morning, said, "It is perfectly incorrect, up to the present hour, that a single elector whose name is attached to my requisition has either di rectly or indirectly, by word of mouth or by letter, sig nified to me, or any member of my committee, a desire to withdraw his name from the requisition." Now, early on Thursday morning, the day before Mr. Sleigh made that declaration, Mr. James Seaward, a voter, and one of the requisitionists, wrote to him, stating that he had signed under a mistaken impression, and requesting his name to be taken off any future copies of the requisition that might be printed, adding that he had adopted that straightforward course in order that it might not be said he was sailing under false colours. EXPLOSION AT THE M.ONICERIDGE IRONWORKS.—On Saturday morning an explosion took place at the works of the Monkbridge Iron Company, Whitehall-road, Leeds. About five minutes before 8 o'clock two terrific explosions were heard in rapid succession, and in a moment the brick chimney, the burning cinders, and boiling metal from the refinery were hurled into the air to a great height. A man named Edward Dickenson, who was at the moment engaged in stirring the fire, was thrown some distance by a quantity of molten metal striking him upon the face and breast. He fell, almost instantly,rose, but was knocked down again by the descending bricks and rubbish. Another man work ing at the refinery was scalded by the molten metal about the hands and thigh, but his injuries were not very serious, and he walked home. Dickenson, how ever, was found to be dreadfully injured. The molten metal had burnt into the flesh, and it was necessary to cut away his apparel. He was conveyed as speedily as possible to the infirmary, where he lies in a precarious state. At the time of the explosion, there were from 25 to 30 cwt, of metal in the refinery, all of which was blown out, Tue sides of the trou g h s were knocked over and broken, and one of the iron pillars was fractured, while one plate of iron fell through the roof of the forge, and another was blown across the ri ver Aire, which ft )ws by the side of the works. The cause of the acci dent is not known positively, but it is thought to have arisen from the water in the trough s having- by some e • means found its way amongst or beneath the molten metal.—Leeds Mercury. THE COURT MARTIAL ON LIEUTENANT DEANE. result of the late court-martial at Gosport TieTuhte . Deane, of the 22d Foot, was promulgated on Saturday. It will be remembered by ou r readers that Lieut. H. A. Murray Deane was brought to trial ieh about three months or more ago on thr ee c h arges effect that be had wilfully f a il e d to fulfil wh fil the terms to the written guarantee given by hi m voluntarily to er m t he s o o f ffi a . cers of her Majesty's 22d Regiment while in India to pay them, six months after the landing of the regiment in England, all sums of money due from Paymaster Bar low, for having•abueed the trust imposed in him as trea surer of the private funds belongingma to the officers ; and for having, while acting per, torn or destroyed a the officers' paymaster, leaf or leaves fromrs, t ledger containing the accounts of Paym as t er Barlow, byth a view to conceal the amount draw n an d receive with dthastineoeffitcoer.The Court had bee n or d ered about a month reconsi der their finding, but though they acquitted Lieut. Deane of any fraudulent intent, and admitted that he had ap propriated all the lost funds to some, though not the right, regimental uses, yet they nevertheless sentenced him to be cashiered, His Royal Highness the Comman der-in-Chief thereupon advised her Majesty not to con firm the sentence, b ecause , h oweve r re p re h ens ibl e Lieutenant Deane may have been for giving a guarantee which he could not perform, there was no moral turpi tudo in his conduct. The Queen was graciously pleased not to confirm the sentence, and Lieutenant Deane was therefore "'acquitted." We are informed that a court of inquiry, consisting of Major-General Breton, Lieut.- Governor of Portsmouth and commanding the South- West district ; Lieut.-Colonel Evelegb, commanding the 20th Regiment ; and Lieut.-Colonel Ingram, command ing the 97th Regiment, is ordered to report, on the con duct of the other officers of the 22d Regiment respeot ing the proceedings in reference to this case. LATEST NE WS. PRUSSIA AND SWITZERLAND. VIENNA, DEC. 21. Advices from Berne of the 20th inst. have been received here. Prussia has refused to treat directly with Switzerland. All the Federal staff officers of Switzerland have been ordered to return to their posts imme diately. 20,000 men are to be put under arms without delay, One half, under General Bourgeois', will be stationed at Basle ; the other half, under General Ziegler, at Schaffhausen. The van and reserve are to be in readiness to .ake the field. The Grand Council of Berne has unanimously granted unlimited credits for the purposes of war. BERLIN, SUNDAY. The .Frankfort Journal announces that the Swiss Federal Council has called out 10,000 men for the defence of Basle, and 10,000 for the de fence of Schaffhausen. Unlimited credits for military purposes have been voted. It has been officially announced here that the diplomatic relations between Prussia and Switzer land are broken. The French Envoy will take under his protec tion all Prussian subjects resident in Switzerland, and will have eharge of the archives of the Prus sian Legation at Berne. The Federal Gazette, of Berne, publishes the 'ollowing announcements : " BERNE, DEC. 18. " A Prussian despatch, arrived this instant, breaks off diplomatic relations. The Chancery of the Prussian Legation is already closed. There is an extraordinary sitting of the federal council this evening. "AN HOUR LATER.—The Diet is convoked, probab]y for Jan. 5. The question has entered upon a new phase (evidently a very serious one). " THIRD DESPATCH.—The Diet is convoked for Dec. 27. The cantons have been instructed to prepare the personnel and mate r iel of their military contingent." Advices from Constantinople to the 12th, re ceived via Trieste, state that Ferouk-Khan trans mitted Lord Stratford do Redcliffe's ultimatum to Teheran on the Bth. The ultimatum, according to these advices, de mands a revision of the treaties with Persia, the evacuation of Herat, authority to found factories along the coasts of the Persian Gulf, and the con cession to an English company of certain railways to be made across the Persian territory. Persia is supported by Russia in demanding neutrality from Turkey, but England demands permission for the passage of troops across Turkish territory. The Imaum of Muscat has refused to pay his annual tribute to Persia. A correspondence in the Presse say- - ; that the Swiss Government is resolved to exhaust all its resources rather than make the least concession to pretensions which would involve the moral suicide of the confederation. The Prussian Government has formally demanded authorisation from Wurtemburg and Baden to be allowed to march an army of 120,000 men through those States.. It is believed the request will be granted. Should Prussia really so far commit her self, a French army of observation, it is said, will approach Neuchatel. Letters from St. Petersburg say it is now gene rally believed that Russia will take an active part in the Persian war. There is, however, it appears a strong party at Court opposed to plunging the country again into war, and especially as the enemy would be England. FRANCE. PARIS, SUNDAY, The Constitutionnel publishes an article, evidently emanating from an official source, on the subject of the Conferences. It notices, for the purpose of con tt h r a e r i e w t i a n y g t n h t e o m f t o h r e e g r n u m o u r s journals"w bi c r h e a have f t o o u nd a ta d i j n o e u d rn i m n e h n ig t hofcluthareteerosnafserteontchese, uthtielitdyouobfts openingen ter them, and the new difficultoifesthtehaptolwiaevresawrihso a enf r r e om the pretensions of some to send Plenipotentiaries—pretensions which were not admitted by others, and which might lead to the abandonment of Conferences altogether. The Constitutionnel states that there is no foundation for these rumours ; that there is no reason to doubt that the Plenipotentiaries will as semble at the period already indicated, namely, towards the end of the present month ; that nothing of a serious nature has occurred to the pre sent date to impede the preparations for the meet ing ; and that the delay had been foreseen and was inevitable. No time has been lost, as the Con ference could not be held before the arrival of in structions from the Ambassador of the Sublime Porte. The convocation dates from the Ist of December ; and the instructions of the Porte left Constantinople on the 12th. The bearer of them is one of the sons of the Grand Vizier, and he is expected in Paris in a few days. The delay which has taken place (observes the Constitutionnel) has been turned to account, and the spirit of conciliation and the judgment which decided the reunion of the Plenipotentiaries have not ceased, in the meantime, to reconcile diffe rences of opinion, and to conduct matters as nearly as possible to a solution. There is every appearance that some few sittings will suffice for the labours of the Conference, and that these sittings will not be prolonged beyond the first days of January. There is reason to hope that the question of the frontiers of Bessarabia will then be settled, as well as the other difficulties of less importance which relate to this part of the treaty. The labours of the Con gress will receive from the first days of the new year their definitive sanction, and no further ob stacle will exist for their execution. It then alludes to the organisation of the Danu bian Principalities, and the impossibility of con voking the Divans in order to ascertain the wishes of the population, owing to the presence of foreign troops on the territory. The foreign occupation has not ceased, because the frontier , question is not yet decided. When the question is decided the troops will evacuate thelMoldo-Wallachian territory and the Divans will forthwith assemble. When the wishes of the Principalities are ascertained, the European COmmission will terminate its labours ; the Conference will once more, and for the last time assemble in Paris, as the treaty prescribes ; it will take under consideration the wishes of the Moldo- Wallachian people expressed by the Divans, as also the report of the European Commission, which will serve as the basis of that important question. The article concludes :-- ,4 We may, therefore, flatter ourselves with the hope that this last phase of negotiations, which have kept alive the attention of Europe since the Congress in Paris, will no longer meet with any serious impediments, and that the new organisation required by the Principalities will take effect in the spring." _ _ The son of Reschid Pacha, bringing the Turkish Ambassador at Paris his full powers for the Con, ferences, arrived at Marseilles this day. The Prince of Prussia...or the Petit Prince, M be is generally called iu Paris—leaves to-night at 11 o'clock. His departure had been fixed for yes terdmy, but he was induced to give his Imperial hosts an , Aber day. It is sai•i that hough the Kiug of Prussia may not gratify the desire of the Emperor by accepting an invitation to the Tuileries, the Emperor wilt go to him. "If the mountain will not come to Mahomet, Alahomef must go the mountain." A good deal of negotiation is stated to have passed on the subject. The Grand Duke of Baden and the Prince of Prussia, father of the petit Prince, gave their good offices, but as yet without effect. People, however, talk of the Emperor's visit to Berlin in February or March next. THE PARIS CONGRESS. A Paris letter in the Nord of Brussels says : " All the difficulties which had arisen relative to the routine and conduct of the conferences have been removed during some late conversations at which an envoy from the British Cabinet was pre sent. He came to Paris on a kind of non-official mission, and in three or four days brought about an accord between all parties. The gentleman I allude to was Mr. James Wilson, one of the two secretaries of the Treasury, a member of the House of Commons, and a friend of Lord Palmerston whose confidence he enjoys. The principal object of his journey was to definitively fix the conditions on which the conferences will be opened, the questions to be exclusively considered, and the du ration of the conferences. Mr. Wilson, ou leaving Paris for England, declared that he had come to a full understanding with the French Government. As the journey of Mr. Wilson and the language which he used have 'seen made the subject of con versation, I give you the following as the most pro bable version of what took place. Mr. Wilson wished to ascertain, with certainty, whether the majority at the conference would declare against the pretensions of Russia with regard to the property of the Isle of Serpents and the possession of Bolgrad. On this point he obtained an assurance in the affirmative. Mr. Wilson demanded that it should, be agreed upon beforehand and that the confer ence should not assemble, except to decide on the difficulties which had arisen for the delegates charged to trace out the new line of frontier of Bes sarabia, conformably to Art. 20 of the treaty of Paris, and that consequently no other question should be taken into consideration. This was con sented to. Lastly, Mr. Wilson proposed that an agreement should be come to beforehand that the conference should only last two days. Everything will be done in order to conform to the wishes of the English Cabinet on the point, and, supposing that two sittings are not found sufficient, they cer tainly will not exceed three." NEUCHATEL. Notwithstanding the tone of the note inserted in the Moniteur, and the preparations for war which are being made in Prussia, there are many in Paris who do not yet despair of a pacific solution o f the question of Neuchatel. A report is prevalent in some political circles that an arrangement is in Pro" greys by which the King of Prussia would relin quish his rights to the sovereignty of Neuchatel in exchange for a principality in Germany, the Prince of which is to surrender it for a pecuniary consido' ration to be paid by the Swiss Confederation. The Assemblee Nationa/e publishes the following violent attack on the Swiss Confederation :—" W e have hitherto avoided saying anything that could tend to give an exaggerated importance to th e question of Neuchatel, but we must not allow our selves to be led into error. The question is that of democracy and Socialism in Switzerland ; the strugs gle which is taking place in that little territory in' wolves the true liberties of that noble country, such as were established by its ancient constitutions again° the abominable tyranny of the Radicals. Europe had taken the old liberties of Switzerland under its protection ; it had converted that country into a neutral territory, the organisation of which was a guarantee for the tranquillity of the continent. Radicalism and revolution have transformed it into a hot-bed of anarchy and disorder ; into a refuge. where all the bandits who conspire against social order, and all the assassins armed against the lives, of sovereigns, encounter not alone impunitY, bu! the means of pursuing their propaganda and of maturing their plots. Can Europe remain in' different to this state of things ? Most certainif not, and France the least of all nations." Le .Nord says :—" It is generally thought rn in diplomatic circles here that Switzerland will retu to calmer and more reasonable feelings. I a c a , fl affirm to you as positive that Prussia has alre_,ety . obtained the authorisation of Wurtemberg and et in order to take military possessio n o Baden for her troops to pass through thos f e S s t e a h t a e ff s, „ hausen. It is not necessary to hav e that author' sation further confirmed by the Diet ; in the first o f the body. ysona firs t plat©, because Prussia acts isnhehehr own alrepa re ceived the approbation Switzer land will consequ entl y act very s l u mber in a false sea as name, and next, becausealready rity. The King of Prussia cannot abandon the imprudently if she allows her self to prisoners of Neuchatel at the very when Switzerland persists i b ' ' moment n ringing them to trial, and when the French Government has openly d ec lared in hi s favour. It is objected that the G e rmanic Confederation, fearing to see its trade with Switzerland fall off, will use all its efforts t° paralyse the movements of Prussia. It is incon testable that dip lomac y ha s not yet completed its an d it is still hoped that it may succeed hi effecting an amicable arran gemen t , i f Sw i tzer land cwoffoneresketgs to concessions ; but it is easy to comPr e ; hend that if she persists in her refusal, th e condoL' o f Prussia is too clearly mark e d ou t for her now tw drawback." AUSTRIA As some of the N or th Ger V m l a E n N p N a A per n s E c e0.1.11 : 1;13. to affirm that A of the rich us countries lying tria "wishes to retain possessil, of the Danubian Pri e t i Lower ews bya s Dan beenan u p b e r 0 , ; a semi-offi • cial Austrian writer • a lio the columns of n o c i n p a t l h i has explain the Augsburg Gazette 13 the °can'''. tion longed. The Vienna correspondent instead o'. atte • mpting to excuse the policy of ' Austria, plainlY says that the army of occupation was lef t in M°l; davia and Wallachia because Russia displaYeth, a disinclination to fulfil some of the conditions ca the treaty of peace. When the St. Petersburg Cabinet has ceded Bolgrad and the Isle of Serpent° there will no longer be a motive for occupying an,/ part of the Turkish territory, "and consequentll the battalions of Austria and the vessels of En g' land will be withdrawn." W e are then told that the Austrian Government never thought of P r o . longing the occupation of the Danubian Prill cipalities until their re-organisation was coraplote, but the statement is incorrect. The Imperil'', Government greatly fears that the Ultra-Libera; party will get the upper hand in Moldavia On Wallachia, and it long endeavoured to persuade France, England, and Turkey to let the European Commission perform its duties without delay. Turkey might, perhaps have been induced to con sent, as Austria offered to withraw her troops trona the neighbourhood of Bucharest and Jassy, but France distinctly stated that her Commissioner wou ld not be inst ructed to go to Bucharest until b o th Principalities had beensense as F letely ra nce, but e vacuated. E ng land spoke in the probably so mewhat less positively A Vienna . paper l e arns from Bucharest that the Kaimakaine o f ploldavia and Wallachia have already re ceived instructions from the Porte to convoke the Divans ad hoc, but the news can hardly be correct, as a pe rson who is generally ext remel y well informed of what is passing in Wallachia state• that no step will be taken towards the reorganisa tion of the Principalities until the frontier question has been definitively settled. It is said that the standing army of Wallachia will in future consist of 30,000 men, but the province will certainly net be able to maintain such a large force. .......-,-. SPAIN. MADRID, Dec. 19.—The journal El Leon EsP 64- no t states that a rev olutionary club has been dir at Madrid. S o me persons are said t° have been arrested, and several proclaroatioo seized. The Russian squadron under Admiral 85i11,,16, has left Cherbourg for the Mediterranean• usual salutes were given and returned. TOO vessels will put in to Brest and Cadiz, and the ° Proceed to Toulon. --- ______ SEIZURE S OF TORACCO.—Wm. Gorey, a rasa in t b° woodmillt employ of Messrs. Ray and Son, millers, at w as yesterday convicted b y the ma g istrates of Southan3Pci li ° ton on th e charge of bein g concerned in unshipping conce aliog 2,685 1 b. of tobacco and 521 b. of tobacco stalk, wi th intent to defraud her Majesty's Customs. It v 1 9 .6 proved by the Custom-house officers that the tobacco was found in the house of the defendant at Woodroillt which is about two miles and a half from Southaraptoo• Woodmill is on the banks of the river Itchen, whi ch navigable from the Southampton Water as far 2 0 to the mill. The bales contained 2,6851 b. of Virginia bacco, valued with the duty at 1,589/. 15s. The defenn o ureqiY on the part of Gorey was th at he had good-hum on taken in the packages for the night for a pers 'su. could not travel onwards because the roads were so b . ''„ The magistrates conv i c ted the defend ant in the Itui; penalty of 1,5891. 15e., but, as he could not pal Foingty, he was committed to prison.